Rogue Car Dealer Fined for Clocking Scam: How to Protect Yourself

Used Car Dealer Convicted for Mileage Clocking Scam

A rogue used car dealer has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of a fraudulent 'clocking' operation. Grzegorz Seczkowski, who ran GNA Car Sales in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, was convicted of rolling back the odometers on six commercial vehicles as part of a campaign of dishonest trading.

The 41-year-old deliberately targeted high-mileage former fleet or rental vans that were under three years old. By choosing these vehicles, he exploited a key loophole: they hadn't yet undergone their first MOT test, meaning their true mileage wasn't centrally recorded, making the fraud harder to detect.

The Mechanics of the Fraud

Seczkowski purchased the vans at auction and proceeded to roll back their odometers to show a reading just above their last service record. This deceptive practice was particularly severe, with some vehicles having been driven up to 22,000 additional miles beyond what was displayed. He then sold these clocked vans on Autotrader for inflated prices, profiting from the misrepresentation.

The scam was eventually brought to the attention of Oxfordshire County Council's trading standards team, who launched an investigation that led to prosecution. At Oxford Crown Court, Seczkowski was found guilty of fraudulent trading.

The Sentencing and Consequences

Returning to court for sentencing earlier this month, Seczkowski received an 18-month prison term, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £2,529 in compensation to his customers and contribute £5,000 towards the council's prosecution costs. In a separate ruling, his company, GNA Car Sales Ltd, was fined £2,000. Both Seczkowski and his company were ordered to pay a victim surcharge, and a deprivation order was made for a clocked van seized by trading standards during the investigation.

Trading Standards' Warning to Car Buyers

Reacting to the sentence, Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety, highlighted the serious implications of vehicle clocking. She stated: 'Vehicle clocking misleads customers making a significant financial decision, with false claims leaving them frustrated, out of pocket and potentially even in danger. These vans were being sold to people who rely on them to earn a living, so breakdowns or high repair bills can have a significant impact on their lives.'

Davina Walkin, trading standards operations manager at Oxfordshire County Council, offered practical advice for used car buyers. She explained that anyone purchasing a second-hand vehicle can check the mileage recorded during each MOT test for free on the GOV.UK website. She warned: 'If a vehicle regularly covers a significant number of miles each year and then suddenly shows only a very small increase, this can indicate that the vehicle has been clocked. Unless the seller can provide a clear explanation for the reduced mileage, we would recommend caution.'

Walkin also recommended that buyers consider using commercial vehicle history check services, which, for a fee, can identify mileage discrepancies, undeclared accidents, insurance claims, or whether a vehicle has been stolen. These checks serve as useful tools for researching a vehicle’s history before committing to a purchase.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough due diligence when buying a used vehicle and the serious consequences for dealers who engage in fraudulent practices.