Buyer beware: Tarrant County Sheriff warns of surge in stolen truck sales

TARRANT COUNTY (CBSNewsTexas.com) Buyers beware! The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office is warning consumers choosing a new car to be careful when buying.

The warning comes amid a wave of reports from people who say they bought stolen new models of GM pickups without knowing it.

Victims usually find out they bought the stolen vehicle when they are in the DMV trying to transfer ownership, only to find out it’s fake. Identification cards and titles provided by vendors have been found to be counterfeit, and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) change frequently. Sellers typically turn off sales-related phone numbers after the purchase is complete.

TCSO said buyers find these trucks through popular social media sites. Vendors often agree to meet them at public places not specifically associated with residential or commercial addresses. In almost all cases, they are in Spanish and are for cash only.

Here’s what Tarrant’s Regional Motor Crime Task Force says you need to know about when buying a car:

  • Use a reputable (authoritative) car dealership whenever possible rather than relying on private sales negotiated online and through social networking websites.
  • When buying from individuals, be wary of “too good to be true” deals, “cash only” sales, and cars without pre-registration, insurance, or repairs.
  • Be wary of online profiles that are newly created and don’t show previous sales or reviews.
  • Beware of a seller without a permanent address, place of work or phone number.
  • Try to get a photo of the seller, their ID and a description/registration of the vehicle they are arriving or leaving. If the seller hesitates, be suspicious and trust your intuition.
  • Make sure the VIN plate is present, affixed and unaltered. If you are in doubt about the authenticity of a license plate, contact a new dealership that sells the same model, or contact law enforcement.
  • Vehicle histories and reports are valuable, but only if the VIN displayed on the vehicle actually belongs to the vehicle being sold.
  • Carefully check “official” documents for spelling errors, corruptions, inconsistencies in identification numbers and names, etc.
  • Ask to meet vendors at a “safe shopping area” at your local police station or DMV parking lot, which can deter potential criminals.

If you are a victim, you are advised to contact your local law enforcement office.

The post Buyer beware: Tarrant County Sheriff warns of surge in stolen truck sales

first appeared on Texas Standard News.

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