Cars stolen in logbook scam
01 February 2010
Thieves are using blank V5C documents (or ‘logbooks’) stolen from the DVLA to make 11,000 cloned cars appear genuine.
Used car buyers can check the serial number on the V5C document doesn’t fall within the following ranges:
• BG8407501 to BG8431000
• BG9167501 to BG9190500
• BG9190501 to BG9214000
• BG9282001 to BG9305000
If you find a serial number in the above ranges, Auto Trader recommends you walk away from the sale and report it to the police.
Another essential buying tool is vehicle check, which tells buyers if a used car has been recorded as stolen, written off, scrapped or is subject to outstanding finance.
Auto Trader’s marketing director Matt Thompson said; “It’s shocking to see that consumers have been ripped off to the value of £13 million in the latest cloning scam.
“We urge prospective buyers to check the serial number in the V5C document of the vehicle in question.”
View tips to buy and sell safely:
For more information on car cloning, read our advice feature.
Details of other scams and safety advice can be found on Auto Trader’s safety and security centre.
By Dominic Sacco, senior web journalist
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