Police urge vehicle rental firms to tighten security amid rising fraud

Colombo, July 22 (Daily Mirror) - Police have urged vehicle rental companies to strengthen their security measures, warning that fraudsters are using fake identities, suspicious payment methods and deceptive tactics to obtain rental vehicles before disappearing without a trace.

Police said that rental operators should not hand over vehicles without thoroughly verifying the identity of customers, noting that a few extra minutes spent on verification could prevent the loss of a vehicle worth millions of rupees.

According to Police, rental companies should inspect original National Identity Cards (NICs) and driving licences, ensure the person collecting the vehicle matches the identification documents, and obtain a recent photograph or selfie for their records. They also recommend verifying the customer's permanent address through a recent utility bill or Grama Niladhari certificate and confirming that the provided mobile phone number is active through a live call or one-time password (OTP).

Police have also advised operators to strengthen technical security by installing reliable GPS tracking devices in every rental vehicle and ensuring they remain operational at all times. CCTV cameras should also be installed at vehicle collection and drop-off points to capture clear footage of customers.

In a bid to make suspects easier to trace, Police recommend avoiding cash transactions and accepting payments only through credit cards, debit cards or bank transfers linked to a Sri Lankan bank account in the customer's name.

Police further advised rental businesses to sign legally binding rental agreements, obtain verified guarantors for long-term rentals and clearly state that the vehicle cannot be driven by anyone other than the registered renter or subleased to a third party.

Highlighting several warning signs, Police said rental operators should be suspicious of customers who demand vehicles urgently while offering to pay more than the usual rental rate, present questionable identification documents, show unusual interest in the vehicle's GPS system or security features, or insist on collecting vehicles only at night.

Police urged vehicle rental businesses to remain vigilant, warning that organised fraudsters continue to exploit weak security procedures to steal vehicles, making strict verification and monitoring essential before every rental transaction.