Here's how criminals are cloning VIN numbers nationwide

It's a new way scammers take money in an elaborate auto scam. It is happening nationwide, and victims don't often realize it's happening until it's too late. It all involves your vehicle's VIN number.

[@steven.h0629]

Either way.. these fraudulent loans are not the vehicle owners responsibility and they easily proved it. Loan Co needs to drop this one, erase that VIN from the loan record and pursue the correct thiefs themselves.

[@toytacambery9427]

It disgusts me that people can do this just by looking at the VIN, something always easy to see through the windshield. My dad just found out yesterday this happened with his Kia. The fact that Google searches returned results from credit unions rubbing their nipples saying "unfortunately, it is a crime the victim usually end up paying for" makes me want to defecate on a bank teller.

[@L.Scott_Music]

My bank and every bank I've ever been with require a bank employee to inspect the vehicle before the loan is finalized. How was the scammer able to get a loan simply with documents and no physical inspection?

[@paisleydreamzz]

Covering my Vin number on my dashboard right about now!

[@Sam-pi6ch]

That is actually illegal

[@paisleydreamzz]

@@Sam-pi6ch in my state, i can cover it while it is parked in my driveway. if i'm not around and an officer NEEDS to see it, they r authorized to break in : 0

[@mkernen]

@@paisleydreamzz An officer can get all the info they need from the license plate. If they need the VIN they can ask you to open the door.

[@mynintendogamingfeed5208]

​@@mkernenYeah; somewhere around the door jamb on the driver's door, too.

[@onlyrog5]

​@@Sam-pi6chSame as stealing cars

[@brilwiljeff]

The finance company, not the truck owner got scammed. Release the lien, revise the procedure for robbing poor people and move on.

[@bradvance1846]

Well, it must be an inside job by approving a loan without even physically seeing a vehicle, period.

[@jacksparrow7300]

That’s why these high interest rate charging title loan companies need to be shut down.

[@onenikkione]

they didn't do anything illegal. the scammers that made a FAKE title to the truck did and that required someone working on the inside of the DMV.

[@bradvance1846]

Well, look like that financial company is part of the scam. How can they offer a loan to someone without even looking at the vehicle?

[@langhamp8912]

Only the title loan company would be have the experience to fill out such paperwork, and in a way that doesn't make them liable.

[@July-A7]

What's more shocking is the 96% interest on the loan!!! Loan sharks is a rather mild word for these motherf*ckers.

[@cedricjackson7521]

How does the title loan company give a loan on a vehicle they haven’t seen themselves this doesn’t make no sense

[@davidmorley7778]

Inside job

[@bradvance1846]

This is a no brainer. Employee works inside the financial company is part of the scam by approving a loan without seeing the truck. New scam comes directly from inside the company which wrote the loan to someone just base on VIN, not the vehicle.

[@July-A7]

@@bradvance1846 not necessarily . The loan is taken out against a cloned vehicle. Or you end up buying a cloned vehicle. Or you buy a vehicle and failed to check outstanding loans against it.

[@9davidlong]

Tough luck to loan company, they have a responsibility to make sure paperwork is real.

[@FastSS02]

So how do they get your social security number from your vin?????

[@mikemartin9869]

That was my question as well

[@ironbowtie]

The only real positive to this story is that a title loan company got screwed over.

[@langhamp8912]

I think the title loan company filled out the paperwork and paid themselves. I don't think a normal person would be able to.

[@hadiabegum9028]

Whatever happen to checking the driver license what a joke.

[@yapandasoftware]

Okay this sounds like a "bank" problem. Not the one they're making the victim. He didn't take out the loan so the loan company by default should be the one to suffer. Not him.

[@yapandasoftware]

@@BuildTheFutureYouWant The bank did not do their due diligence and they are the physical property in the transaction. Let's say someone uses your ID to get a loan for $10,000 and they don't pay a dime back. Let's also assert the state issued the ID. Now this person ditches the ID and keeps the money and never pays a dime back. Now the bank comes and sues you. Are you liable for the money the bank gave to the person with your ID? No difference. *Yes, this has happened several times*

[@four1878]

be careful about your car keys too, because they use these small devices ( Amazon sells them) to copy your car key outside your home or in a parking lot and access your car and remove things without you knowing it. Sometimes vandalizing it.

[@doc-vg9lq]

u sure? because copying car keys is expensive. whats the name of the machine? I think i was quoted like $300-400 to get my key copied by a Sams Club locksmith vendor

[@mojooftheg5961]

The N in VIN is number.

[@timothymccloskey9420]

Dup titles are subject to the rights of the original title which they have in hand. Dup titles usually have this printed on them across the front by the issuing state.

[@patmcbride9853]

"VIN number" is like "ATM machine" redundant failure.

[@h-minus5537]

There isn’t much that will happen to them if caught,plea bargain down to lesser offense

[@seymourscagnetti1413]

Isn't "vin cloning" when someone "crooks" steals your high value car/truck, then buys an identical vehicle that has been wrecked/totaled from a wrecking yard and puts the wrecked vin plate on the new undamaged stolen car? (Edit): I live in Ca. In 2020, I bought a 2012 Toyota Camry from Anderson Toyota in Az. (out of state purchase). In orderr to transfer title from Ariizona to California, the Ca. DMV requires a "Vin Verification". I had to call the Calif. CHP, make an appointment and have the vehicle inspected. Here is my main point: The officer called my name, asked for the car's paperwork then proceeded outside to begin the inspection. I started to follow him outside to the car. He stopped in his tracks, turned around and informed me in no uncertain terms: "You can not go outside with me, You must wait in the office until I have completed the inspection". This made it clear to me that law enforcemnet DOES NOT want the public to know WHAT they are looking for or WHERE they are looking for it.

[@michaellewis9275]

All cars and trucks have hidden VIN numbers on them. I found one by accident on a 1970 VW bug when I was swapping out the motor!!!

[@seymourscagnetti1413]

@@michaellewis9275 A while back, I watched a video about a guy who bought a classic project car. It had no plates/tags, no vin number and no engine. I think it was a '55 Chevy Bel-Air (maybe). Somewhere on the firewall, in the area of the brake booster, there was sheet metal that was doubled up. He drilled out some spot welds and peeled back the top layer of sheet metal to expose the bottom layer which had the hidden vin number. I tried searching youtube for the video but could not find it. To paraphrase the video title: "How to obtain a title from the DMV for a classic car without plates, engine or vin number". Maybe he took the video down. Cheers.

[@ndre2768]

Getting a vin number is extremely easy. All it takes is the license plate number on the vehicle.

[@DTM45]

I live in Arizona, they have private business’s that perform registrations for vehicles. It’s an absolute joke in the State of Arizona vehicle registration.

[@onenikkione]

You can go directly to the DMV and skip using the authorized private business

[@CuhDehtx]

You buy a stolen car and you buy a same exact model car but totaled or junked so it’s cheaper then you use that vin number of the totaled car and put it on the stolen car vin and boom you got a legal running car

[@ISLAMICSTORIES13]

yep in states that give rebuilt titles without inspection this actually works. you put the junked vin on the stolen car and pretend you rebuilt it

[@supermodelatlanta1354]

This is bs. In Atlanta ga. They have to physically see and inspect the car b4 a check is released. Sound like a inside job at loan center

[@DevilDogs1918]

VIN numbers are everywhere and public. How do you stop the fraudulent loans. I can walk in a parking lot and get your VIN. How do they get your Socal Security number from your VIN anyways?

[@TheMatthewDMerrill]

This wouldn't be an issue if the loan place just inspected the vehicle before issuing the loan. Being able to put the vin online is no different than someone coming just to look at the vehicle.

[@kingdomgovernance]

Happened to me and it’s really sad that people are this lazy and disgusting!

[@MrEuphoric1]

How do you keep vin confidential when anyone can walk up and get any vin from any dash?

[@edbrodzinski3638]

The older I get … the more I HATE people ! SMH

[@SaltNBattery]

It’s literally in full view on the dash, wth are people supposed to do?

[@SKF358]

Your VIN is viewable through the windshield on your dashboard.

[@catistrolling7333]

Well the vin number is on the front of the car usually drivers side

[@TheWilferch]

Title Loan company not following through on their REQUIRED due diligence.....is responsible.

[@jamesdalton7191]

Thieves also use this tactic to get the title in the thieves name, then they come back and steal the vehicle and sell it. I know this because someone did it to me. I'm lucky I got my car back.

[@603adventures9]

I call bill shot

[@CerveloR5]

GOD DAM 96% INTEREST RATE?

[@xoxxobob61]

Payday Loans are even higher than that.

[@Slingersbullseye]

Sounds like a state issue anytime you speak of registration or "title" this is all law/state based property therefore the state should spend money first to prevent from happening and two responsible if this should happen to any US citizens by law to protect your privacy and private property I after all they're the ones who say need a title" lol sheesh we getting stupid again people!?

[@ninibossalini4960]

Damn that sounds like a great new hustle to get into. Anything beats going to work everyday to be around slobs i hate seeing day after day

[@nikkibrooks613]

Dam

[@edwilko8819]

vin no. is visable on the chassis from the outside amd also in windscreens. wuat a stupid system for getting loans in the usa lol 😂your social security should never be linked to a vin no. sound more like a massive date breach of gdpr 😢😮

[@j.l.m.6862]

Wow