Towing scam takes its toll on NSW smash repairers

The scam involves a request for payment to a towing company for a damaged vehicle that is out of state – see the email right. MTA NSW senior manager of divisional services Greg Preston, who reported the scam to AP&P, said: “Be extremely wary of any emails you might receive like this. We have had many phone calls from repairers about this scam. If you have been affected by a scam such as this one, please collate all evidence and contact the Office of Fair Trading on 133 220.”
Within an hour of publishing the news of the towing scam, a NSW smash repairer, who would like to remain anonymous, called AP&P to say that their workshop had been caught out by the man calling himself Peter Williams.
“It seemed totally genuine. The money was transferred by EFTPOS into our bank account. It wasn’t until we got a call to say that the transaction was fraudulent that we knew something was up,” the bodyshop owner said.
“We talked to someone at the tow company and Peter Williams emailed us and spoke to us. He then said there was a problem with the tow company, and that we needed to do another transaction. We had called the police by this time, but he was still phoning the workshop this morning.
“We are $1450 out of pocket. I want everyone to know this is a real scam. Don’t get caught out. I won’t be doing any more EFTPOS transactions over the phone after this.”
Theo Kalanidis from John’s Twins Accident Repair Centre in Woolongong wrote: “Thanks for the warning. After reading your web story I am going through the exact same thing with Peter Williams. He emails and phones me two or three times a day. He deposited $1450 a week ago, and I forwarded it to the towing company. Now there’s another problem. He’s transferred $2650 and is asking me to pay someone else. I’ll now be contacting the police and letting them know what’s been happening.”


-----Original Message----- From: Peter Williams [mailto:peterwilliams1533@yahoo.com.au]
Sent: Friday, 10 June 2011 2:02 PM
To: MTA REPAIRER
Subject: 2009 Honda Accord  
Thanks for the phone conversation, The vehicle is already with a towing company in Melbourne, VIC where the accident occurred, you can get in touch with the towing service via email at ahrtowing@rocketmail.com or  03-9016 3783 ask for John.  
I live in NSW that is why I want it towed back for the repair. I haven’t payed the towing guy yet and he will only have the vehicle towed to your shop for the  quote and repair on Tuesday by 11.00 am  after he gets his payment, so I will forward  your address to the tow guy that will bring the vehicle over to your work shop.  
One more thing I need you to know is that towing company don’t take credit cards and I will be giving you my credit card now to put through for an amount of $1,950 and you keep $500 as deposit for the repair and help me to send the outstanding $1,450 to the towing service through (POST OFFICE EXPRESS MONEY ORDER) this service is available at any local post office. As they need to receive payment upfront, so they can have the vehicle towed down to your shop for the quote and repair.
 You can also get in touch with me at peterwilliams1533@yahoo.com.au or 540-765-5329 because am out of town in the California, USA now on business.
Thanks. Peter Williams.