Gardai are warning potential car buyers over a scam involving vehicles being purchased with fake bank drafts, and then being sold on to unsuspecting customers for cash.

78 cars have been recovered in the last three years and there have already been more cases this year than in all of 2013.

Gardaí are urging members of the public who are buying or selling their cars privately to take necessary precautions before finalising the sale.

Criminals are targeting members of the public who advertise their vehicles for sale on classified websites, who express an interest in viewing and then buying the vehicle.

The criminals also place adverts seeking "drivers wanted" on websites, and the applicants are then asked to meet for an interview. These drivers are instructed by phone to meet prospective sellers to view the vehicles.

The criminals make arrangements over the phone - without personally viewing the vehicle - to purchase it using a bank draft. This transaction will take place in the evening time, usually on a Friday.

Some of the cars that have been recovered

The draft is handed over and the driver receives the vehicle and vehicle registration certificate. The seller is told the buyer is in the motor trade and given an RF105 (Change of ownership to Motor dealer) form with details of a fake garage.

The vehicle is already re-advertised on the internet below the market value to attract attention. It is then immediately resold to an innocent purchaser.

When the false draft is discovered, the vehicle is reported as stolen.

Gardaí are advising people who are offered a bank draft to get details of that draft in advance and check it is legitimate with the bank it is purported to be from.

They also advice customers to avoid buying a car in a car park or similar open, unofficial area - and that if the seller is unwilling to provide details for verification, the buyer should walk away.

One person caught up in such a scam was left out of pocket €40,000 last year, after the car was returned to its owner.

Gardaí say they have been working closely with a number of Irish classified websites - such as DoneDeal.ie, Adverts.ie, Carzone.ie - to trace the suspects, warn their customers and remove adverts.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Garda Crimestoppers on 1800-250-025.