Canadian thieves use real VIN codes to register and sell stolen cars
Vehicle Identification Numbers are a kind of “passport” for cars, containing information about the brand, model, year of manufacture, and technical specifications. They are also used to check a vehicle’s history.
However, these same numbers have become a tool for criminals. As reported, some car thieves have found a way to easily register and sell stolen cars by using real VIN codes from legal vehicles.
Dealers become victims of the schemes
A case was recorded in Ontario where a dealership tried to hand over a luxury SUV to a client, but it turned out that according to the documents, the car no longer belonged to the dealer, even though it was physically on their premises. Thieves likely obtained the VIN code of this model and used it to legalize a stolen car.
This scheme, known as “VIN cloning,” allows criminals to freely sell stolen cars. According to Carfax, there may be over 140 thousand cars with cloned VIN codes in Canada.
Public databases facilitate the crime
The sources for obtaining VIN codes can be elementary – they are often published on car sales websites along with the price and mileage. This creates a risk where thieves can simply take a VIN from a sales ad and use it to legalize a stolen car of the same model.
In April, Carfax launched a new warning system for dealers about potentially fraudulent VIN codes or stolen cars. However, no system is perfect, especially when government officials might also be involved in the scheme.
The situation with VIN code cloning points to a systemic vulnerability in vehicle registration procedures. Until the market implements stricter verification mechanisms, criminals will continue to exploit these gaps, which affects both dealers and ordinary buyers who risk getting a stolen car.