These Are the 10 Most VIN-Cloned Vehicles in Canada According to Carfax
Used car buyers, beware: more and more cases of VIN fraud are being reported across Canada. This is when someone illegally changes the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of a vehicle to hide its true history, often to sell stolen vehicles without detection.
More specifically, this type of fraud happens when an individual steals the VIN from a legitimate vehicle and puts it onto another, which is typically stolen, to essentially give it a fake identity. The result is two cars on the road with the same VIN, making it difficult to trace the falsified one as it appears to have a “clean” VIN that is not flagged as stolen.
A Widespread Issue in Canada
According to Carfax Canada, VIN fraud currently affects more than 372,000 vehicles across the country, which is huge. “Buying a used vehicle privately offers choice and value, but it can also expose consumers to serious risks if the vehicle they purchase has a compromised VIN,” says its president, Shawn Vording.
The organization has just published a list of the top 10 most VIN-cloned vehicles in Canada. All of them are American nameplates and, unsurprisingly, most are pickups:
- Ford F-150
- Ram 1500
- Jeep Wrangler
- Ford Escape
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Ford F-350
- GMC Sierra
- Ford Edge
- Ford F-250
- Ford Explorer
Vording warns consumers about purchasing a vehicle that has a fraudulent VIN, even without knowing it. They may face severe consequences, including police seizing the vehicle, insurance companies denying coverage for repairs or theft, substantial loss in the vehicle's resale value, and inability to sell or trade in the vehicle.
A New Tool to Help Buyers
Since a number of people are concerned about the continued vehicle theft and fraud problem and look for more ways to protect themselves, Carfax Canada has launched a new online tool called “VIN Fraud Check” to help them avoid purchasing stolen vehicles from private sellers.
The tool is based on a proprietary algorithm that analyzes billions of records to identify signs of potentially suspicious VIN history. It complements Carfax Canada’s Vehicle History Report, which provides details about accidents, recalls and service records associated with the vehicle. Canadians can purchase VIN Fraud Check on its own for $19.95 or bundle it with a comprehensive Vehicle History Report for a total of $69.95.
What To Do If You Suspect VIN Fraud?
It is always important to stay alert and do your homework when purchasing a used vehicle. Here are some steps you can take before you buy if you suspect VIN fraud, according to Carfax Canada.
- Review the Vehicle History Report: Carefully review the Vehicle History Report to look for any inconsistencies in the vehicle information mentioned above.
- Compare the VIN: Check the VIN against official records and with the car’s original manufacturer (OEM).
- Verify vehicle history: Contact the owner of the vehicle to verify that the vehicle’s history matches their expectations.
- Report fraud to authorities: If you suspect a fraudulent VIN, consider reporting the suspected fraud to your local law enforcement through the non-emergency line and obtain an incident report.