Luxury car sale scam takes $76K from victims ending with charges for Brampton man, police say

Police have charged a Brampton man posing as a car salesman with scamming victims across the GTA in a luxury car sale scheme.

The scams happened during the spring and summer months of 2023 when Peel Regional Police say a Brampton man was running a fake auto sale business called Aponic Leasing.

Investigators say the fraudster advertised luxury vehicles for sale on various social media platforms.

Police say the man would collect deposits from victims for the sale of vehicles but never followed through on the deals and refused to return the money.

In one scam, police say the fraudster posed as a car salesman at an unaffiliated car dealership to defraud a victim.

Police say numerous victims were defrauded for more than $76,000.

After more than a year-long investigation, police say a 30-year-old Brampton man was arrested on Oct. 1 and charged with multiple offences related to the frauds.

Peel Regional Police say Sadaf Farooq, 30, of Brampton, has been charged with defrauding the public and possessing property obtained by crime.

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.

Police are warning the public to be aware of potential scams when purchasing a vehicle and say not to prepay or provide deposits for vehicles or any products when dealing with unknown individuals advertising on social media.

Here are some tips for police to follow before buying a used vehicle online:

• Beware of vehicles that can only be viewed or inspected after purchase.
• Travel to see a vehicle located remotely—don’t rely on pictures or a convincing website.
• If you can’t travel to see the vehicle, hire an appraiser or mechanic to inspect it. Ensure the vehicle exists and the seller is who they claim to be.
• Check with state or provincial regulators/authorities to ensure a dealer is legitimate and properly licensed.
• Purchase a vehicle history report for the vehicle—don’t simply rely on a report provided by the seller; it can be altered.
• Don’t wire money or provide a credit card number without doing all your homework.
• Beware of sellers who want to close the deal as quickly as possible.