How To Know Whether The Sweet Car You Want to Buy In Maine Is Hot

A new trend in used vehicle sales is popping up in Maine, with out-of-state theft rings passing off stolen vehicles as legitimate.

Has Anyone in Maine Fallen Victim to This Scam?

The scam involves vehicle identification numbers (VIN) being swapped between salvaged and stolen vehicles. Like one man who bought two separate $80,000 GMC pickup trucks, not realizing that they were stolen from Texas. When he applied for titles to those vehicles, it was discovered that the real VIN numbers had been ground off and replaced with VIN numbers from similar vehicles that had been salvaged. Investigators tracked the source of the vehicles in Texas and found a large stolen vehicle ring that also involved unlicensed dealers selling vehicles online.

READ MORE: Bangor is Maine's First BEE City

In a separate case, an elderly woman had been asked by an unknown New York man, who said he was a friend of a friend, to help him out by titling an Aston Martin. He said he would pay her $500 for her trouble. Again, when she applied for a title, she learned that the vehicle was stolen. Police investigated and tracked the suspect to Long Island, where four other potential VIN-swapped and stolen vehicles were discovered on his property.

The Secretary of State's Office Says People Should Do Their Research

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says residents can protect themselves through online resources, including vehicle history reports and information about the laws in each state.

But if and when something bad happens, our detectives are here to investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Residents should take their time before making big purchases and do their research, instead of jumping into a deal that often seems too good to be true.

Several Agencies Can Provide Information In Advance of the Purchase

Consumers can protect themselves by obtaining a vehicle history report  and learning the laws in Maine through these websites:

• National Motor Vehicle Title Information System data providers. 
• Bureau of Motor Vehicles website.

Similar resources are available online for other states, if someone is buying a car outside Maine.

More information about spotting a cloned vehicle and tips on how to avoid falling victim to these types of scams can be found on the National Insurance Crime Bureau website.