By Trend News Line 2024-04-24 08:00:00.
The battle against Canada’s worst-ever auto theft crisis has taken a new turn, with criminals now focusing on selling stolen vehicles within the country itself. This shift in strategy has caught many unsuspecting buyers off guard, highlighting a flaw in provincial registration systems that authorities are now scrambling to address.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
According to police estimates, nearly one-third of stolen vehicles are being resold in Canada, a significant increase from just six months ago when the majority of stolen vehicles were believed to be exported. This new trend has left many buyers in a precarious situation, as they unknowingly purchase stolen vehicles with cloned Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
One such victim, Derek Crocker, bought a Ford F-150 pickup truck from a dealership in Toronto, only to discover later that the vehicle had a cloned VIN. Despite small clues like malfunctioning remote start features and inaccurate location information, it wasn’t until the truck needed repairs that the issue came to light. Crocker’s investigation revealed that the truck he purchased had been reported stolen, leading to the immediate seizure of the vehicle by the police.
This growing problem has prompted calls for a national vehicle registry in both Canada and the United States. The lack of a unified system for checking VINs across jurisdictions has allowed criminals to exploit the gaps in the current provincial registration process. Police forces are urging federal and provincial governments to take action to address this issue and prevent the sale of fraudulently registered vehicles.
In an effort to combat this epidemic of re-VINed vehicles, authorities are advising buyers to be vigilant and look for signs of tampering with VIN stickers. Bubbling or discoloration around the VIN on the dashboard or driver’s side pillar could indicate the presence of a fake sticker. Running the VIN through a paid service like Carfax can also provide valuable information about the vehicle’s history and potential red flags.
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
In a disturbing development, police have uncovered cases where employees at ServiceOntario, the agency responsible for vehicle registration, have been involved in facilitating auto theft rings. Several employees were charged with fraud, tampering with VINs, and trafficking in identity information, highlighting the extent of the problem within the registration system.
As the number of re-VINed vehicles continues to rise, authorities are warning buyers to exercise caution, especially when purchasing vehicles through social media platforms like Instagram. Private sales without proper documentation or verification can leave buyers vulnerable to purchasing stolen vehicles with fraudulent VINs.
The fight against auto theft in Canada has taken on a new urgency, as criminals find new ways to exploit weaknesses in the system. With the proliferation of re-VINed vehicles and the involvement of insiders in the registration process, authorities are working tirelessly to address this growing threat and protect unsuspecting buyers from falling victim to this sophisticated crime..
1. Used car stolen registration exploit
2. Vehicle registration weakness thieves exploit.
