Car sellers are being warned to be on their guard against Lithuanian gangs conning them out of their cars.

The National Criminal Intelligence Squad (NCIS) said the conmen are responding to private ads and buying cars with high-quality forged banker’s drafts.

The NCIS said the gangs usually pose as Scandinavians or buyers from other western European countries and target cars in the £10,000 to £15,000 bracket.

Sellers were first hit by the scam in late 2004, releasing their cars before the drafts could be identified as forgeries in the clearing process.