Fraudster took £50,000 from public who believed they were buying cars

07 March 2024 , 11:18

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James Shoobert claimed to be a car salesman (Image: Kent Police)

A fraudster claiming to be a salesman took more than £60,000 from people he knew who believed they were buying cars.

James Shoobert told his victims he knew ways of getting them vehicles at reduced prices due to his work as a car salesman in Canterbury. Between March and August 2022, he told five different people, all of whom were known to him, he would help them get on the road at a cheaper-than-usual price.

Eager to use his help, the victims paid him more than £60,000 in the belief they would get a vehicle. However, none of them received any cars or got their money back.

The offences were reported to Kent Police later the same year and Shoobert was charged with multiple counts of fraud in 2023. After admitting the offences at Canterbury Crown Court, the 39-year-old, of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, was jailed for two years and four months on Monday 4 March 2024.

PC Aimee Gossett, Kent Police's investigating officer, said: “Shoobert lied to his victims so that he could defraud them out of considerable amounts of money. Kent Police takes reports of fraud very seriously and will always work to bring those behind such offences to justice and attempt to recover losses for victims.”

Think twice before ordering drinks on tab - it could put your money at risk

Earlier this year it was reported the financial watchdog is investigating whether car finance mis-selling complaints are being unfairly rejected and if consumers have “lost out”. MoneySavingExpert.com founder said the outcome could potentially mean millions of people who used car finance might be owed pay-outs. The (FCA) that let dealers choose the interest rates on loans in 2021. This type of model allowed car salesmen to get more cash by boosting their commission.

But since then, the FCA said “most” complaints relating to this practice before the ban was put in place are being rejected by motor finance firms because they feel they “have not acted unfairly”. The Financial Ombudsman has recently ruled in favour of two complaints, while claims have also been brought in the County Courts. The FCA said this is “likely to prompt a significant increase” in new cases being brought forward.

As a result, the FCA said it will now investigate if there has been “widespread misconduct” and if consumers have “lost out” as a result. The FCA said: “There is significant dispute between some firms and consumers on whether firms have breached legal and regulatory requirements.”

Antony Clements-Thrower