Have you heard of VIN cloning? I first learned about it a while back when searching for a used car. It's a common scam, and it's been hitting close to home. Some scammers are posing as car dealers in Duluth and Superior, confusing car buyers and taking advantage of them.
Scammers Targeting Online Vehicle Shoppers
It's no secret that the price of used vehicles is really high. It's hard to find any used vehicle that's roadworthy for less than $10,000. Scammers are taking advantage of desperate people by offering "quality cars" at a good price. Victims think they are getting a good deal and end up losing hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
I was talking to Chris Kari, owner of Kari Toyota, about recent scams that they have been seeing. He recently was at the Wisconsin Auto Dealers meeting, and they alerted all of their members about the increasing activity of these scams.
What is VIN Cloning?
The most typical way people get scammed is by finding a used vehicle online. The price is good, sometimes almost too good to be true. The scammer asks for a down payment before you see the car, or full payment. They promise to deliver the car, but it never shows up, and your money is gone.
The scammers will look at an auto dealer's inventory and use a specific car and VIN that's being offered for sale. So the car actually does exist, but it's been cloned by the scammer, and you're not actually buying the car.
Scammers Posing As Twin Ports Auto Dealer
Recently, Kari Toyota took a phone call from a person asking about a vehicle they were trying to buy online from a Superior auto dealer. Fortunately, the potential victim noticed some things weren't adding up. They contacted the police, and the police actually suggested talking to Kari Toyota or another legitimate dealer, because they can tell you the truth about what was happening.
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Sure enough, it was a scam, and it happens all the time. If you are buying a vehicle online, don't give money ahead of time before seeing the car. Do a CARFAX search on the vehicle. You can call a legitimate auto dealer and ask for assistance, and in most cases they will be happy to help you.
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Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli