A MOTHER-OF-ONE who was left terrified for her safety when she was threatened after selling her car is warning others to keep an eye out for similar scams.

Anna Livsey, of Darwen, advertised her 09-plate Fiat Qubo on Facebook Marketplace last week and was contacted by a potential buyer who arrived at her house, along with others, to look at the vehicle almost immediately after making contact.

According to Miss Livsey, the three men seemed more concerned about whether she lived alone than the condition of the car.

Her father, Paul Livsey, said: “They purchased the car for £700 and took it without even taking it for a drive.

“The next day they rang my daughter saying the car had some faults and they wanted a full refund but also to keep the van.

“They then went on to explain if they didn’t get the money, the house my daughter and four-year-old grandson live in would be visited by 50 travellers to trash the house and take items to the value of the vehicle.”

Miss Livsey said: “I feel this is a potential scam and they are threatening and bullying people into refunding money in the hope they find someone scared or weak enough to succumb to their demands.

“They said I’d disrespected their family and they would come and recover money for the car. I feel like someone had imposed on my life. I don’t even know these people.”

Mr Livsey said his daughter was hysterical and worried for her safety and so contacted the police.

He said: “The police said they knew the family and advised my daughter not to return home but there was nothing they can do unless they actually trashed the house. I’m shell-shocked, my daughter continues to get bombarded with calls through no fault of her own.

“To threaten a single mother with having her house invaded and trashed is unbelievable.”

A spokesperson for the police said: “We’ve been made aware and provided safeguarding advice. We’ve advised the woman to contact us should there be any further issues.”