Free Screening of Driven to Defraud

Car sales fraud costs U.S. consumers billions each year. To help consumers fight back, the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) and the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition (MCRC) invite you to attend the Washington area’s first public screening of Driven to Defraud, MCRC’s powerful documentary film on auto sales fraud, on Wednesday, December 18 at 7 p.m. in the Fenton Room of the Silver Spring Civic Center located at 1 Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring, MD. This event is free and open to all.  Please come early as space is limited.

Driven to Defraud documents the scams some car dealers use to abuse Maryland car purchasers and shows you how to protect yourself when you buy a new or used car. The film explains how yo-yo sales, interest rate mark-ups, rebuilt wrecks, and other scams work through the eyes of car-buyers who have been victimized, consumer advocates, and honest auto dealers working to stop the fraud.

You will have an opportunity to ask Investigator Jim Parks, OCP’s auto expert and a Certified Master Automotive Technician, your car-repair questions. MCRC leaders will also be available to discuss what consumers and policymakers can do to stop auto fraud.

You can see a 90-second preview trailer for the film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Lti1UCNPg.

OCP, the County’s consumer protection agency, investigates thousands of complaints each year involving automotive sales and repairs, new home purchases, home improvements, credit issues, retail sales, internet services and most other consumer transactions. OCP provides pre-purchase information to consumers, as well as speakers to the community on consumer issues.