If you are considering whether to buy a vehicle from a private individual, the Kansas Highway Patrol encourages you to take some extra precautions.
The advice follows the recovery of a stolen pickup in Lyon County last month. Troop V, the Highway Patrol’s Auto Theft Unit, got information about a person applying for a Kansas title on the truck, but there were concerns because the vehicle identification number or VIN on the title was already being used in another state with a newer title. As part of a meeting with the applicant, troopers inspected the vehicle and found the truck had been “cloned” — with a fraudulent VIN, tire label and load label. Cloning means a vehicle has had its identification features altered as a way to hide the fact it has been stolen. Cloned vehicles can often be listed at $20,000 or more below fair market value, according to the Highway Patrol.
Once the real VIN was located, troopers verified the truck was stolen in Dallas, Texas, last year. Troopers say the applicant bought the truck in good faith.
Troopers ask potential vehicle buyers to make sure key fobs work and valet keys actually open doors. Troopers also encourage potential buyers to inspect the VIN and other labels to make sure their prospective vehicles are indeed authentic.
Click here for the link to the Highway Patrol’s Buyer Scams information page online.
