A group of six trade bodies has joined forces to create the Vehicle Safe Trade Advisory Group (VSTAG), a new industry forum aimed at combating vehicle related fraud.

VSTAG, a partnership comprising Auto Trader, eBay Motors, Exchange & Mart, the Finance and Leasing Association, Motors.co.uk and the Met police will target fraud on and offline, offering advice to both consumers and traders.

The group will also develop and exchange information on best practice for those in the industry.

Adrian Black, chair of VSTAG and business development director of Motors.co.uk said:  “We are pleased to be working together in partnership to better protect both buyers and sellers of vehicles.

We are doing as much as we can to implement the necessary measures to improve security and make the online and offline world a better place for consumers.”

VSTAG’s first consumer guide is now available online, and future information, along with known fraudulent adverts, will be made available shortly.

Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Mawer of Met’s Economic and Specialist Crime Command commented: “This is not a victimless crime and often the loss to the individual can be great. Through this initiative we aim to make the transaction safer.”