Auto Theft Car Cloning - Buyer Beware!

Taking the identity of a legitimately-owned car and putting it onto a stolen car of similar make and model is illegal. Car cloning is a crime that is serious and being aggressively investigated by local law enforcement agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

How Does Car Cloning Work?

A vehicle is stolen, usually a luxury car or a SUV (fully loaded). The manufacturer installed Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate is pried off and replaced with another plate from a vehicle of a similar make and model in a different state. Legitimate VIN numbers can be removed from cars and SUV's scheduled for demolition or destruction and sold to people with the express intent of defying the law. Phony ownership papers complete the cloning. The vehicle can then be easily registered with a motor vehicle agency in another state and re-sold.

In Tampa, Florida, the FBI successfully closed a long-running car cloning criminal enterprise with a federal grand jury indictment of 17 major players. In the Tampa case, more than 1,000 cars were sold to knowing and unknowing buyers in 20 states and several countries, at a loss of more that $25 million to consumers, auto insurers and other victims.

Impact On A Consumer

If an individual purchases a cloned car and the theft is discovered, the car will be confiscated. The purchaser will still be responsible for any outstanding loans on the car and can be accused of a variety of offenses themselves, from parking tickets, cutting someone off in traffic, to serious criminal activity like organized crime. The owner could spend a lot of time and money trying to prove innocence.

Avoiding Purchasing A Cloned Car - Tips

1) Purchase used vehicles from reputable dealers.

2) Beware of a car being sold for substantially less than comparable makes and models. Use information on sites like MyRide.com to verify blue book, wholesale and retail costs of vehicles.

3) Insist on a copy of the car's vehicle history report. Check maintenance records closely. Compare mileage over time on these records to locate any discrepancies and compare with the odometer.

4) Check out the VIN plate on the dashboard and engine for any evidence of tampering. Every auto has a VIN number located above the dashboard on the driver side, inside the driver door and under the hood. Check to see that all these numbers match the paperwork.

5) Look for incorrect spellings on paperwork and vehicle titles. Check to make sure the registration papers match the license plate numbers. Also, does the owner's name match the seller's name?

6) Trust your intuition.

Help in 2010

The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators operates the Department of Justice database. By the year 2010, an electronic system that links state motor vehicle departments together will be operational and will be able to identify duplicate VIN number registrations. Agencies in 37 states now participate, or are in the process of participating in the system. Federal law mandating the database in all 50 states will go a long way toward stopping the criminal activity of car cloning and other vehicle crimes across state lines of the United States.

Sources:

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/march09/cloning_032409.html
http://www.myride.com
http://www.nmvtis.gov