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  • Geebo 8:00 am on July 28, 2025 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: car cloning, car title, , ,   

    Cloned Cars Cost Kansas Drivers Big 

    Cloned Cars Cost Kansas Drivers Big

    By Greg Collier

    Criminals in Kansas are increasingly using cloned vehicles to defraud unsuspecting buyers, leaving victims without legal recourse and contributing to higher insurance costs across the state. The Kansas Highway Patrol reports a growing number of these cases, in which stolen or salvaged vehicles are made to appear legitimate through fraudulent documentation and vehicle identification numbers.

    A cloned vehicle is one that has had its identifying features altered to disguise its original identity. Criminals acquire the vehicle identification number (VIN) from a legally registered vehicle and use it to create fake labels and documentation that match the same make, model, and year. These forged materials are then applied to the stolen or salvaged vehicle, allowing it to be sold as if it were legitimate. Because the vehicle now carries the identity of a real, legally registered vehicle, its original history becomes concealed.

    The impact on buyers can be severe. Those who unknowingly purchase a cloned vehicle often pay thousands of dollars, sometimes in cash, and have no legal claim to the vehicle once it is discovered to be stolen. They may also be unable to recover the money paid. Meanwhile, the original owners of the stolen vehicles must go through the process of proving their ownership and often receive an insurance payout that does not fully reflect the vehicle’s value. In some cases, victims may not have theft coverage at all.

    This type of fraud can also lead to broader consequences. Insurance companies may be forced to pay large claims, which in turn contributes to rising premiums for all policyholders. Additionally, cloned vehicles can be used in the commission of other crimes since they are difficult to trace back to the person who altered them.

    While it is difficult to quantify the exact financial toll of this scam in Kansas, even a single case can result in combined losses exceeding six figures. Buyers may lose their payment, insurers may be responsible for substantial payouts, and the original vehicle owners are often left without a car or proper compensation.

    To avoid becoming a victim, prospective buyers should be cautious and research a vehicle’s history before completing a purchase. They should verify the legitimacy of the title, ensure the VIN on the vehicle matches official documents, and avoid cash transactions that are difficult to trace. Taking steps such as photographing the seller and checking identification can also help deter fraud. Ultimately, buyers should remain skeptical of prices that appear unusually low, as they may indicate a more profound issue with the vehicle’s history.

    Additional information and resources for verifying a vehicle’s identity can typically be found on your state’s Highway Patrol or State Police website. The National Insurance Crime Bureau also offers a free VIN check service that can assist buyers in identifying potential cloned vehicles.

     
  • Geebo 9:00 am on February 3, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: car title, , , , , ,   

    Used car scam plagues Texas county 

    Used car scam plagues Texas county

    Harris County in Texas is one of the largest county’s in the country. It doesn’t hurt that it contains Houston the 4th largest city in the country. Due to its large and culturally diverse population, Harris County has become susceptible to a scam where victims are losing thousands of dollars at a time.

    Scammers are listing stolen vehicles for sale on platforms like Craigslist, OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. When the buyer goes to purchase the vehicle, all the paperwork looks legitimate including the car title. When the buyer goes to the DMV to put the car in their name, they find out that the vehicle has been reported stolen. Meanwhile, the scammers are long gone with the victim’s money. Harris County investigators say that they’ve investigated at least 125 of these fake title scams in the past year. There may even be more victims, but the scammers seem to be targeting members of the Latino community. Some of these victims may be undocumented and are fearful of going to the police. The Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office has stated they will not ask for anyone’s immigration status if they’re reporting a crime.

    There are a number of ways you can protect yourself from this scam. The first is checking the vehicle’s VIN through one of the many services that will give you a car history. In some states, including Texas, you can check with the state’s DMV website to find this information. You can also ask to have the seller meet you at a local police department parking lot to make the exchange. If the seller does not want to meet you there it’s advisable not to make the transaction. Some police departments can even tell you if the VIN has been changed on the vehicle. Lastly, ask the seller to come with you to the DMV while you get the title changed. Again, if they refuse, the vehicle may be stolen.

     
  • Geebo 9:29 am on March 22, 2018 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: car title, lien,   

    Make sure you buy a car with a lien-free title 

    Make sure you buy a car with a lien-free title

    Unless you live in a major metropolitan area like New York or San Francisco, it’s almost impossible to get around in our country without a car. This is especially imperative for lower-income families who may have trouble paying for things such as insurance or the many state fees included with car ownership. That’s why you need to be extra careful when buying a used car online. We’ve detailed many used car scams before, but now we’re hearing of a new one that could leave you broke and without a vehicle.

    In Glendale, Arizona, a woman recently purchased a used car from a seller on a classifieds app. The seller had a sob story about how she had to pay for a recent funeral and didn’t even have money for food or their cell phone. The buyer, feeling sorry for the seller, not only bought the car, but bought groceries for the seller and paid for the seller’s cell phone bill. It wasn’t too much longer after the transaction that the car was repossessed and the buyer was then out of her money and no longer had the car. The car had a lien on it from title loan company. Even though the car was sold to a new owner the title loan company had the legal right to repossess the car.

    Whenever buying a used car, always do a history check of the car even if you’re pressed for time in needing a vehicle. Always obtain the vehicle’s VIN number which can be usually found on the driver’s side toward the bottom of the windshield as you look into the car. Many states provide a free or low-cost service where you can see if there are any liens on the car. You can also use the more expensive independent services like Carfax and others to get a more detailed history of the car.

    Not having a car today is a major inconvenience to say the least. To not have a car and losing a big sum of money in the process can be crippling for some families. So please take the time in researching a car before purchasing.

     
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