Pssst Wanna not Buy a Stolen Car
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Vehicles -> subcategory Cars.
Pssst: Wanna Avoid Buying a Stolen Car?
Summary
Thinking about purchasing a used car from a well-dressed, friendly individual who placed a classified ad? Be cautious?"this could be a scam. Here are tips to protect yourself.---
Have you ever considered buying a used car with cash from someone you just met in a bar? Probably not. But what if it's from a well-dressed, friendly middle-aged person who placed a classified ad and meets you during the day at a restaurant?
Watch out! This scenario might be more deceptive than it seems. Take the case of Jennifer Warwa. She bought a minivan, had it inspected by her mechanic, and everything seemed fine. Her mechanic was shocked to learn she’d been scammed.
"He was so clean cut, in his fifties, and soft-spoken," the mechanic told CBC's Marketplace. "He even came with her to get the car inspected. There were no signs he was dishonest."
A few months later, Jennifer received a call from the police informing her that the minivan she bought was stolen and would be seized. She was distraught and attempted to hide the van. Eventually, she was left paying off a $5,000 loan on a vehicle she couldn't drive. Ouch!
Jennifer's story is just one example among many, including the impact on the original owner, the insurance company, other consumers with rising insurance rates, and the police who spend countless hours tracking these thefts. According to the FBI, a vehicle is stolen every 25 seconds in the USA, leading to an $8 billion annual problem.
Here's how these scams often work: Thieves target specific cars for their value, ease of resale, or ease of theft. While cars used to be stripped for parts, including rare items like airbags, today some criminals are bold enough to sell stolen cars through classified ads.
One rampant scam is "VIN cloning," where the Vehicle Identification Number is stolen. Thieves copy VINs from parked cars, even at dealerships, or remove VIN plates from salvage yards. They use these to forge documents, turning stolen cars into seemingly legitimate vehicles. Many operations span multiple states: cars stolen in the East might be registered in the Midwest and sold in California. Frightening, right?
How to Avoid Buying a Stolen Car:
- Compare the VIN: Check the VIN on the dashboard against the one in the driver's door jamb, under the hood, and on the paperwork.
- Research the Car's History: Use the VIN to get a history report from services like Carfax for about $20.
- Verify Documents: Ensure the title and registration match the seller's name and address.
- Be Cautious with Out-of-State Cars: Investigate thoroughly if the car comes from another state.
- Avoid Parking Lot Sales: Insist on meeting at the seller's address where the car is registered.
- Check Recent Transfers: Be wary if the vehicle was recently transferred.
- Contact Numbers Matter: Note if the seller uses only a cell phone versus a home or work number.
- Question Low Prices: Consider why the selling price might be unusually low.
- Dealers Can Be Victims Too: Remember, even used car dealers can fall for scams.
- Avoid Cash Payments: Use certified checks or money orders instead of cash.
Remember, most private sellers are honest individuals. With private sales often offering better prices, following these tips can help ensure you drive away with a legitimate used car.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Pssst Wanna not Buy a Stolen Car .
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