EastEnders star Shaun Williamson has denied surgery rumours after new snaps made him look 20 years younger, revealing the images are actually part of a motor scam awareness campaign with Cazoo.
The actor, best known for playing Barry Evans on the soap, said his smoother, younger-looking face is not the result of surgery but of AI-powered video content that demonstrates how easily fraudsters can wipe years off a car's mileage.
Campaign highlights car clocking concerns
Shaun is working with Cazoo to highlight the growing concern of car clocking, where vehicles are made to look far younger than they really are. The AI-generated content shows how simple it is to turn back the clock, just as fraudsters do.
He is also calling on the public to back Cazoo's petition to close a legal loophole and make the deliberate alteration of a vehicle's mileage a criminal offence in its own right.
Research reveals industry concerns
Cazoo's research, which surveyed 310 used-car dealers across the UK, paints a concerning picture of mileage fraud. A whopping 81% describe clocking as a 'serious issue' for the industry.
Dealers quizzed estimated that on average, 14% of second-hand cars they come across may have had their mileage deliberately altered - equivalent to around one in seven vehicles. They also point to the practice being on the increase, as 60% of used-car dealers believe instances of vehicle clocking have gone up in the UK over the past five years.
Many put this shift down to rising technology, as more than two-thirds of dealers (68%) say clocking a modern vehicle is now 'easy'.
Legal loophole and industry support
While knowingly selling a clocked car can be prosecuted under consumer protection and fraud laws, there's no specific offence of altering a vehicle's mileage, which can make cases harder to bring.
Cazoo is calling on the Government to close the loophole and make the deliberate alteration of a vehicle's mileage a criminal offence in its own right. It argues it would help create a fairer market for both car buyers at risk of fraud and legitimate dealers who must be vigilant against clocked vehicles entering their stock.
While the Government is considering measures to help prevent the clocking of electric vehicles ahead of the introduction of pay-per-mile taxation in 2028, Cazoo believes action is needed now to protect the wider used-car market, including ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles.
The call is overwhelmingly backed by those working within the used-car industry with 90% agreeing that altering a vehicle's mileage should itself be made a criminal offence. Backed by the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG), Cazoo is now calling on motorists and the wider automotive industry to support its campaign to close the loophole and strengthen protections around vehicle mileage fraud.
New feature helps buyers check history
Alongside its campaign for legislative change, Cazoo is also helping buyers better understand the history of the cars they are considering.
A new feature on Cazoo's vehicle listings shows MOT history using official DVLA and DVSA records. Where available, this includes the date, result and recorded mileage of each MOT test and, in most cases, a mileage chart.
Where the readings don't follow the expected pattern, buyers are prompted to ask the dealer and check the official record on GOV.UK. The feature doesn't determine whether a vehicle has been clocked, as inconsistent readings can also result from, for example, recording errors or a replaced mileage display.
Shaun Williamson said: "Seeing myself de-aged was a trip down memory lane, but it's actually to highlight a really serious issue - technology can trick people. Turning the clock back on my face is a bit of fun - perhaps I can get away with it as my new profile pic."
"But rogues can use this exact same concept to wipe years of use and thousands of miles off a car's dashboard. Barry Evans was famous for getting taken for a ride, usually by Janine, but nobody should get cheated when buying a car. Any motorist could be at risk of buying a clocked car, yet altering the mileage isn't even a specific offence in the UK. That's why I support Cazoo's call on the government to close the loophole once and for all."
Lucy Tugby, chief marketing officer at Cazoo, said: "The law as it stands leaves honest dealers having to guard against clocked cars entering their stock and puts buyers at risk. We shouldn't wait until 2028 or limit protections to one type of vehicle - closing this loophole now would help create a fairer, safer used-car market."
"We're working with Shaun to demonstrate just how easy it is to turn back time on mileage - just as we did with Shaun. We all know Barry Evans was too easily taken for a ride so, with the help of Shaun, we're ensuring that buyers won't be."
