White Van men have been targeted in an international scam which is leaving them thousands of Euros out of pocket and off the road.
Owners of Ford Transit vans - the backbone of the country's commercial fleet - have fallen prey to an international gang specialising in stolen machinery and vehicle engines, gardai say.
And they have warned owners of Ireland's best selling van to be aware of the sophisticated con which could cost them their livelihood.
Gardai in Granard discovered an organised crime gang are behind the international racket.
The ringleaders have placed adverts on popular online sales site offering to repair or replace Ford Transit engines. They even offer to collect the vans from any part of the country.
If a van owner takes the bait, they replace the engine with an engine stolen from a UK or Irish van.
When they return the engine and get paid, they tell the unsuspecting owner the engine is reconditioned.
What makes it worse for the van owner is that after paying out for the "repairs' some owners have had their vans seized by gardai for investigations - causing them further loss or even their livelihoods.
Gardai warned: "You are taking a big risk giving your van to a stranger who collects it from your door and takes it away for repairs to an unknown location."
"If you are a victim, this scam will have cost you money and your van will be seized by Gardai," they added.
The gardai advise motorists that you should only allow a qualified mechanic in a garage that you know to repair your car or van.
