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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 10, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: car theft, identity theft ( 105 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), used car ( 33 )   

  How does this car dealer scam affect you? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Driving a new car is a thrill, but what if you end up unknowingly paying for someone else’s joyride? A concerning scam is targeting unsuspecting individuals and leaving them on the hook for cars they never intended to buy.

  One car dealership in Traverse City, Michigan, has encountered this disturbing scam that preys on both car dealers and buyers. Recently, the dealership experienced a close call with a scam that appeared legitimate. Here’s how it typically unfolds: scammers pose as legitimate buyers, providing all necessary contact details and expressing interest in purchasing a vehicle online. They often request that the car be delivered to an offsite location. Everything seems above board until the credit application process begins.

  The dealership conducts due diligence, asking many questions. These questions are crucial because, more often than not, the supposed buyers are using stolen identities to complete the purchase. Once the deal is done, the scammer drives away in a new car, leaving the real person whose identity was stolen to deal with the fallout. Despite these efforts, there are still many potential victims—dealerships, identity theft victims, and even lenders.

  It’s emphasized to stay on top of your credit. Monitoring credit inquiries can alert individuals to any unauthorized activity, allowing them to act quickly. Locking your credit with all three major bureaus is a recommended step. This measure makes it impossible for the financing paperwork to go through and stops the scam in its tracks. Many financial institutions also offer services that monitor social security numbers and alert individuals to any suspicious activity.

  While dealerships and lenders are increasingly aware of this scam, it’s crucial for everyone to stay informed. The digital nature of these transactions can leave a traceable footprint, aiding law enforcement in tracking down perpetrators. However, even with these tools, convictions remain challenging due to the scammers’ adeptness at covering their tracks.

  The convenience of online car shopping is undeniable, but taking precautions can ensure that you’re not inadvertently paying for someone else’s ride.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 11, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: AirTags, Apple ( 29 ), car theft, Facebook Marketplace ( 62 ), Safety ( 45 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), stolen cars ( 10 ), used car ( 33 )   

  Scammers use AirTags to steal cars 

  

  By Greg Collier

  If you’re not familiar with AirTags, they’re a device sold by Apple that is essentially a tracking device. AirTags are intended to be used on things you don’t want to lose, such as keys and luggage. Some have even attached AirTags to their pets’ collars, so they can be located quickly if they get out. However, bad actors have used AirTags for more nefarious purposes. Unfortunately, there have been numerous instances of stalkers using AirTags to track their victims. Car thieves are also infamous users of AirTags.

  One such car thief was recently arrested in Minnesota, after a potential victim discovered his scam. The thief allegedly stole cars, then sold them to unsuspecting buyers on Facebook Marketplace. The cars would have an AirTag planted on them, so the thief could go back after the sale and steal the car back to sell it again.

  The Minnesota buyer felt like something was wrong with the sale when they were given a freshly cut key and a car title that felt like it was printed on the wrong type of paper. The risk in using AirTags in a scam like this is anyone nearby with an iPhone will be notified there’s an AirTag in their vicinity. The buyer’s wife did have an iPhone and received one of these notices. The buyer notified police, who apprehended the alleged scammer.

  Car thieves will also use AirTags to mark cars they want to steal at a later time. For example, a car thief could spot a car in a parking lot. Then, after attaching an AirTag somewhere on the vehicle, the thief can wait until the car is parked somewhere it would be easier to steal.

  If you use an iPhone and receive an AirTag notification, you’ll also be given an option to have the AirTag make a noise, This way, you’ll hopefully be able to locate the AirTag, and stop it from tracking you or your vehicle.

  If you’re thinking you’re out of luck because you have an Android Phone, we have some good news for you. Android also has an ant-stalking feature that will detect AirTags and similar trackers. Navigate to the Settings menu, select “Safety and Emergency,” and then access the “Unknown Tracker Alerts” option. Here, you have the option to toggle automatic scanning on or off and manually initiate a scan to check for the presence of any unidentified AirTags that might have been accompanying you.

   
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  Geebo 1:07 pm on December 8, 2016 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: car theft, cars ( 12 ), grand theft auto, security ( 46 ), technology ( 7 )   

  New device could make anyone a car thief 

  

  Before cars became mostly electronic and computerized it took a skilled thief to steal or break into a locked car. Only a select few had the talent to be able to pick the lock or use a slim jim to gain access to the inside of a car without breaking the window. Then if they wanted to steal the car, in most case they had a tool that would pull off the ignition and they’d be able to start the car with a screwdriver. Now, the more electronic a car becomes the more points of failure it has when it comes to auto theft.

  If you have a car that either opens the car or can be started remotely there’s a pretty big chance that it could be stolen by just about anybody. Investigative reports have determined that there is a device used among thieves that relies heavily on your cars wireless remote features. For example if you lock your car using the wireless key fob that came with it, this new device can clone the wireless frequency your car uses then replicate it to gain access to your car’s doors and ignition.

  So outside of buying a car that predates these electronics what can you do to protect your car from being stolen this way? While many of these cars use sophisticated electronics many of them still use old-fashioned keys. Rely more on the physical keys themselves when locking or unlocking the car and the criminals have a less of a chance of cloning your signal.

  The odds that this device will be used around your car are slim but it’s better to be prepared than to have to deal with an insurance company over stolen car.