Re-inVINtion: Identity Theft for your Car

Ever been ripped off? At some point in life we’ve all gotten a raw deal on something- been taken for our hard earned money. The magazine salesman at your door that you wrote the check to, then never received your subscription to Sports Illustrated. The “natural healing” book you bought off the late night infomercial that promised cures for almost anything, then finding out the “book” was really a glorified catalog of products you needed to buy from the same retailer that sold you the book.

One of today’s most prevalent issues is that of identity theft. Social Security numbers must be guarded and shielded like precious jewels or your first born child. Losing your Social Security number can create problems you don’t even want to think about. When it comes to cars, VIN numbers must be guarded with equal care. Following are a couple of scams that used car buyers should be aware of when purchasing used vehicles online.

The VIN Salvage Switch

Old faithful finally gave out on you. The car you had since sophomore year of college has plenty of memories for sure, but the mileage and the tearing seats and your homemade sunroof that seemed like a good idea at the time just aren’t cutting it anymore. Time to buy. An exciting time to be sure, as you are about to make a major purchase that you’ve been saving up for. The search begins.

You hone in on SUV’s and really get down to business. You’ve visited the dealerships and you’ve had enough of the used car salesman shtick. Buying from an individual will be easier, you decide. With no luck locally, you venture onto the web- where selection is endless and communication is much less painful than it was with the salesman in your ear. You find a nice silver 4-Runner just a few hundred miles away. Everything looks good in the pictures, the price is reasonable, the mileage is within your range, so you make contact. You ask all the right questions and are satisfied with the answers you get. It’s a father of two, selling the 4-Runner so he can buy something bigger since his wife is expecting another child soon. You even request that he give you the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) so you can check it out. Good history, no scratches, the make and model match the VIN, so you go for it. Congratulations, you are the proud owner of a well conditioned 4-Runner. The car is delivered the following week, and the delivery agent collects your cashiers check for the seller.

Too bad it’s stolen.

That’s right- stolen. You figured this out when a couple of weeks later the police came knocking at your door, asking if that was your car parked out front. You know you aren’t parked illegally, so you answer yes. The next two hours of your life are spent answering questions about the car, how you got it, where you got it, and who you got it from. You explain that you bought it online and that shipping was included as part of the deal. The police kindly explain to you that you purchased a stolen car, and then had the stolen car dropped off at your house. Oh yeah- the cops also have to take the car. It’s still technically a stolen vehicle after all. You feel like you’ve just been punched in the gut, kicked in the head, put in a straight jacket and forced to watch the Tyra Banks Show on loop with the volume on max. This is not your finest hour.

The Scam

You have really just one question: what just happened? You were the victim of a VIN Salvage Switch. A what?! A VIN Salvage Switch. The seller was a criminal, and you believed everything he said in his chat. Haven’t you learned anything from Chris Hansen? You never know who is who online. A Salvage Switch is when a thief uses phony identification to purchase a salvaged vehicle that was extensively damaged, with the sole purpose of obtaining legal title and VIN. Afterwards the thief or thieves steal a car of the same make and model, then switch the VIN plates and claim that the stolen car is really the salvaged car. They registered the vehicle using the phony identification information and resold the stolen car to you, Johnny Rocket Science.

The Invisible Car

Can you easily tell which listing is fake?

+ click to view larger image

+ click to view larger image

Another scam that continues to be prevalent today in the world of online car buying is completely fake listings. As you are shopping for a car you come across a two year old BMW M3 with only 5,000 miles on it, listed at a spectacular price. Thinking you have found the steal of the century, you run the posted VIN and everything seems legit- no major repairs or accidents according to the history reports. The pictures online look great- just the color and model you have been wanting, and the seller seems eager to deal.

You contact the seller based on the information on the web listing, and he tells you a lot more about the car and about himself. He is a wealthy businessman who has just recently relocated to the UK for business. He seems like a genuinely nice guy who isn’t really concerned about making a huge profit on his car, just getting things squared away rather than continue to waste money on storage here in the states. The two of you build a nice rapport on the phone, and he simply asks for a $1500 good faith deposit for you to check out the car and have it inspected if you wish. He tells you that a recent mechanic report is located in the glove box, and assures you that you will be very happy with the condition of the vehicle. Satisfied with the conversation and the research you have done, you cut a check for the deposit and wait to hear from him once he receives the money. He says he will simply hold the check until you have the chance to meet with his representative and check out the car, then the deposit will be used to share in the shipping costs. You wait and wait but hear nothing. The ad for the car is taken down just like he promised when he said he wouldn’t deal with anyone else until you made your final decision. You notice that your check was cashed, but still are unable to get a hold of the seller. Guess what- you just got screwed.

The Scam

You my friend have fallen victim to one of the most common used car scams out there today. How? What happened? This one is really quite simple: the “seller” was never even in possession of the car! But he had the pictures, and the VIN, and everything matched up- you thought you were getting a great deal! Turns out all this crook did was get online and completely copy another used car listing. He lifted the pictures, the description, and even the real VIN off another listing. Essentially he stole an actual vehicles “identity”, then passed it off as his own. That is why everything looked legit- the history report was real, the VIN was for the actual car shown in the pictures. Just one tiny problem- the whole “he was never even in possession of the BMW” thing. Details, details. You didn’t make a $1500 deposit; you just made a $1500 deduction from your bank of common sense.

PreVINtion

Could the above scenarios have been avoided? You bet. In the case of the VIN Salvage Switch, you have to be doubly careful when purchasing (or selling) a used car online. Identities are not known, and oftentimes because of distance you have to buy a car site unseen. Don’t just check the VIN online and trust that everything is in order. Why try to save a couple hundred bucks when it could end up costing you thousands? Buying a new car should be a fun experience, not a scarring one.

In the case of the Invisible Car, the first issue is common sense. Never ever send money to someone you don’t know or trust. Online you really don’t know anyone, so be especially careful. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be so trusting that you are willing to send a deposit just because you thought you had good rapport with someone over the phone. Don’t feel the pressure to be the expert on the subject. Don’t be in a rush to buy. It is far too easy these days for anyone to copy, paste, and rip you off. Don’t let it happen to you. After all, with no car and no money you just might be stuck at home watching the Tyra Banks Show, kicking yourself for your online indiscretions.