Carfax Alert: VIN Cloning May Turn Innocent Car Buyers into Suspected Criminals

FAIRFAX, Va.--Aug. 7, 2006--We've all been put on alert following the recent announcement of the Top 25 most stolen vehicles. But have you ever thought about what happens to those cars? The fact is, thousand of consumers may end up unknowingly buying one. Out of the 1.5 million vehicles stolen in the United States each year, more than 225,000 become "clones". Scam artists mask a vehicle's true history and disappear with your hard-earned money - as much as $30,000!

Your viewers will be stunned to learn how unsuspecting car owners are thrust into criminal investigations and left paying off hefty loans for a car they no longer own. Carfax communications director Larry Gamache is available to provide insight on this emerging scam and what consumers can do to protect themselves.

Carfax is urging used car buyers to be on the lookout for potential clones. To help combat this fraud, Carfax works with law enforcement agencies across the country, providing investigators with valuable resources used to identify and track vehicle cloning.

To schedule an interview, contact Christopher Basso of Carfax, 703-934-2664.