Protect Yourself From VIN Cloning

It’s one of the biggest scams in the country, and anyone could become the victim of VIN cloning if they have ever bought a used car.

VIN numbers are suppose to help if a car is ever stolen, but now some criminals are using VIN cloning, and it could cost you some major bucks.

This cloning happens when a criminal takes the VIN number of a car and puts it inside a stolen car. This so it is more difficult to find out that it has been stolen, but if police find that a car is actually stolen, it becomes a lose/ lose situation for the new owner.

“When the car is discovered, it will be repossessed by law enforcement, but consumers who own these vehicles are still going to have to pay their bank loans on those cars, so they end up owing money to a bank that they no longer own,” said Larry Gamache with CarFax.

Gamache said that VIN cloning is more prevalent when sales occur through the websites like Craig’s List. This does not mean consumers shouldn’t shy away from buying used cars, but they should be careful.

Some tips to help people looking for a used car include, taking the car to a mechanic you trust and getting the car’s history report to ensure you catch any funny business. Also, never buy under pressure.

“When you are feeling pressured, just walk away. There are plenty of good deals out there to be had,” said Gamache.

People lose some $4-billion annually from vehicle crimes. That includes anything from car theft to VIN cloning.