VIAL to protect Lankan customers from vehicle fraud

The Vehicle Importers Association of Lanka (VIAL), the main automobile importers association in Sri Lanka, has embarked on a new strategy to protect customers been swindled at the time of sale of vehicles.
The association has decided to resort to this move taking into consideration the complaints it kept receiving on a daily basis with regards to fraud people face at the point of vehicle sales. 
Under this new scheme VIAL – in a media release – said it plans to introduce a mechanism where customers could clearly identify authentic car sale showrooms endorsed by its organization. This will enable customers to buy their vehicle without falling prey to fraudsters who masquerade as car sale agents.
Accordingly measures have already taken display a board at every showroom of members’ of VIAL indicating their symbol and membership number. Only permanent members of VIAL with a proven track record will be given permission to carry the billboard in front of their showrooms. Customers could also ascertain the authenticity of vehicle showrooms who have not enlisted yet for the billboard to find out for sure whether they are VIAL members by checking their credentials to ensure their VIAL membership.
“There are  fraudsters who promise customers that they are able to sell vehicles less than the market price from their showrooms, collect advances from public and when unable to deliver for those low prices carry out  sinister campaigns against various trading associations,” VIAL said.  Recently a woman was arrested by law enforcement authorities for cheating people by taking advances promising that she could get them Wagon R vehicles which cost Rs. 3.4 million for Rs. 3 million through a reputed car import organization. There are other thieves who rob people by placing advertisements on websites and newspapers that they can provide vehicles for less than the market price. VIAL said many people have loss millions by falling prey to such fraudsters. To prevent the recurrence of such frauds VIAL has now taking measures to issue all its permanent members with display boards with details of their credentials.
As the first phase of the project VIAL has issued display boards to the first 25 members who applied for it and on demand the other members too will be issued the display board. Also VIAL in the future plans to intervene in big way to prevent theft taking place at the time of vehicle sales.  - ENDS -