The B.C. Motor Vehicle Sales Association has issued a warning to be aware of a scam involving "cloned" vehicles.
On such vehicles, the vehicle identification number has been changed to that of another vehicle, so that two vehicles now have the same VIN - the original one and the modified one.
It can happen because, in Canada, each province runs its own vehicle registry, as does each state in the United States. Consequently, there is no central vehicle registry system in Canada.
"It is for this reason getting a vehicle history report, such as a CARPROOF or a CARFAX, which accesses all provincial registries, is important," the MVSA said in a bulletin issued this month.
"By simply entering the VIN, a report can show any possible red flags, such as registration in multiple areas and different mileage readings."
Also, be sure to inspect the vehicle and look at all VIN locations to confirm they're the same.
Check for any signs of tampering, such as scratched numbers and check to see if the VIN on the vehicle matches VIN on the registration documents
"The VIN can be seen as a car's fingerprint," the MVSA said. "Every car is identified by a unique combination of 17 digits and no two cars have the same VIN."
The VIN is found on the dashboard near the windshield and inside the driver's side door.
