Call the Police If You Find This in a Used Car

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Used car swindles can make you both an accomplice and a victim. Here’s one example of a scam you can detect in a used car that should have you calling the police.

Odometer Fraud  

If you have ever bought a used car off a non-dealership lot or on the streets by an owner/seller, the chances are pretty good that car might have had its odometer rolled back. The problem is not so much that you’ve been ripped off, but if you resell that car and someone else catches the odometer fraud…you’ve got some explaining to do to the authorities.

In an earlier warning just a month ago, we learned that with the used car market being what it is right now, the smart used car shopper also has to have his or her BS and scam radar detectors on for possible odometer fraud to avoid this type of scam perpetuated by unscrupulous dealerships that is costing consumers an average of four-thousand dollars on each used car purchase.

According to a recent CARFAX study, used car shoppers need to be aware that odometer fraud is still on the rise and this past year has been especially significant with the number of scams rising among many states anywhere from approximately 1% to nearly 14%.

But don’t make the mistake thinking that this is a problem mostly limited to used car dealerships---private sellers as well are learning the tricks of this scam trade so as to resell their used or flipped vehicles at a greater profit.

The Myth and Reality of Odometer Scams

That said, here is a recent Scotty Kilmer YouTube channel video where Scotty warns viewers about the problem, how to tell if a car has had its odometer rolled back, and where criminals are getting the equipment that makes rolling back today’s odometer easier than it is with older vehicles.

The value of this video is that Scotty shows how easy it is to scam someone and how easy it is to figure out if someone is trying to swindle you.

If You See This When Buying a Car, Run and Call the Police

For additional articles related to odometer fraud and other scams here are three for your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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Image source: Deposit Photos