I was driving down the road the other day and heard an ad on the radio describing how consumers are being ripped off by parties selling vehicles that have been “cloned” or flooded and are now being sold to consumers.
Q: “What is a cloned vehicle?”
A: Vehicle cloning is a highly lucrative crime. Enterprising criminals can copy a VIN from a legally owned and documented vehicle sitting in a parking lot, on the street or at a vehicle dealership. The copied VIN is then used to create counterfeit VIN tags. Car thieves often travel across state and international borders to sell vehicles at the highest prices. Because most licensing agencies do not check for duplicate ownership when an out-of-state ownership document is surrendered, the odds of discovery are fairly low.
The issue is this: if you buy a cloned vehicle it is never really yours. If and when the VIN-switch is discovered, the car you paid for will be confiscated and returned to the original owner or the insurance company and you will be out of the money you paid!
Q: “Flooded vehicles?”
A: A flooded vehicle is one that has been partially or completely submerged in water to the extent that its body, engine, transmission, or other mechanical component parts have been damaged. Typically these vehicles will be sold at auction and be issued a salvaged title. There are dishonest dealers and individual parties that attempt to clean up the vehicles and sell them to unsuspecting buyers as used vehicles for a great price. BEWARE!
Take these preventative measures to help ensure you’re not being scammed:
– Buy from a reputable car dealer
– Inspect the vehicle thoroughly – look for water stains, mildew, and sand or silt under the carpets, floor mats, headliner cloth and behind the dashboard.
– Check inside the seat belt retractors by pulling the seatbelt all the way out and inspect for moisture, mildew or grime.
– Check for rust on screws in the console or areas where water normally wouldn’t reach.
– Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle prior to purchasing it.
– Trust your instincts – if you don’t like the answers you’re hearing or if the deal sounds too good to be true, walk away!
Go to this website provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau: https://www.nicb.org/vincheck for a FREE VIN check.
*Information taken from the NICB website*