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Harrisburg man altered odometer readings on more than 150 cars sold on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist

NOTFEA

Police: Harrisburg man altered odometer readings on more than 150 cars sold on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist
Naomi Creason Aug 11, 2022 Updated Aug 11, 2022 0

A Harrisburg man faces charges after State Police said he altered odometer readings on unlicensed vehicle sales on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, which could have affected more than 50 victims from the surrounding area.

Earnest Fry, 47, was arraigned Thursday on nine felony counts each of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, theft by deception-false impression, deceptive business practices, washing vehicle titles, changing odometer readings and tampering with public information, as well as nine misdemeanor counts of making false applications for title registration and one count each of receiving stolen property and performing an action under false pretense.

Police said that Fry, over the course of five years, bought and sold more than 150 vehicles in the Harrisburg area. More than 50 of the vehicles Fry sold had their odometers tampered with prior to the sale.

Sentinel police log for Aug. 12
Police estimate more than 4 million miles were rolled back, costing victims about $150,000 in the fraud scheme. A majority of the victims are from the Harrisburg area, including its surrounding counties, and some are from out of state, police said.

Police said Fry was aided by Keith Fry and Calvin Everett, with each allegedly having varying knowledge of the operation. Keith Fry is charged with one felony count each of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, theft by deception, tampering with public information and changing odometer reading, as well as a slew of misdemeanor receiving stolen property counts.

Police said Everett is charged with one summary count of acting as a car dealer without a license, though court documents are not yet available on his case.

Earnest Fry and Keith Fry were both arraigned Thursday, with both remaining in Dauphin County Prison unable to post $10,000 cash bail each. A preliminary hearing for both men in the case is scheduled for Aug. 23.

Read Original Story Here

Posted in Geographic Locations, NorthEast, Odometer Fraud Statistics

Two New Jersey Men Plead Guilty in Pennsylvania in Scheme Involving Odometer Tampering and Title Fraud

NOTFEA

Dept of Justice Logo

 

 

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 19, 2022

Two New Jersey men have pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for their roles in falsifying vehicle titles as part of a long-running odometer roll-back scheme.

According to court documents, Felix Granowski, 58, of Matawan, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Granowski owned a used car dealership based in New Jersey. Today, Alec Morgunov, 34, of Manalapan, also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in connection with his work at Granowski’s dealership.

As part of their plea agreements, Granowski and Morgunov admitted that between 2012 and 2016, they engaged in a scheme to sell high-mileage, used vehicles with false, low-mileage readings entered on the vehicles’ odometers and titles. According to court filings, the defendants purchased high-mileage vehicles from individuals, arranged to alter the vehicles’ odometers to reflect false, lower mileage readings, and then obtained motor vehicle titles reflecting those false, lower mileages. Granowski and Morgunov then used the fraudulent title documentation and artificially lower odometer readings to sell the vehicles, including at an auction located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. By deceiving purchasers into believing the vehicles had fewer miles than they actually had, defendants sold the vehicles at inflated prices, resulting in consumers paying more for the vehicles than they would have paid had they known the true mileages.

“When individuals misrepresent the mileage on used cars, they deceive consumers into paying more money for those cars while also hiding vital information that can impact vehicle safety and repair costs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to protecting consumers by prosecuting individuals who engage in this type of fraud.”

“We’re proud of our collaboration with the Department of Justice to investigate odometer fraud,” said Deputy Administrator Dr. Steven Cliff of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Our top priority is keeping people safe on the road. Anyone who thinks they’ve been a victim of odometer fraud, needs to contact their state enforcement office. They can also visit our website, NHTSA.gov, for helpful information on how to detect a vehicle that may have had its odometer rolled back.”

In pleading guilty, Granowski and Morgunov admitted that they were part of a scheme that caused at least 118 cars to be sold with rolled-back odometers and falsified titles, resulting in consumer losses of at least $674,606.

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, respectively. Granowski and Morgunov each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the conspiracy to commit securities fraud charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The NHTSA Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Natalie N. Sanders and Ryan E. Norman of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Rue of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecutors for the case.

NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud in the United States results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually. Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s odometer fraud hotline at (800) 424-9393 or (202) 366-4761. More information on odometer fraud is available on the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/odometer-fraud and tips on detecting and avoiding odometer fraud are available at http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/811284.pdf.

For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa.

Read Original Article Here

Posted in NorthEast, Press Releases, Title Fraud

Police arrest fraud suspect hiding in his basement

NOTFEA

Monroe Police BadgeMonroe police officers arrested Jovani Capozziello, 33, with assistance from Bridgeport officers, at his home Tuesday, where he was hiding in the basement, according to police.

Jovani Capozziello

Capozziello was charged with illegal tampering with an odometer, third-degree larceny, third-degree telephone fraud, criminal impersonation, and three counts of second-degree forgery.

He was released on $25,000 bond for a July 24 court date, then released to the Bridgeport Police Department on its active arrest warrants for other incidents.

On Feb. 26, a Monroe man filed a fraud complaint, telling police he inquired about a vehicle posted for sale on Craigslist on Feb. 25 and spoke to the seller, who went by the name of Carlos.

After agreeing to terms, police said the victim met the seller at the Henny Penny gas station at 241 Roosevelt Drive in Monroe on Feb. 25, did a test drive and was satisfied with the vehicle, according to the report.

Police said he paid the seller $3,000 in cash for the Subaru and received a copy of the Connecticut Certificate of Title and Assignment of Ownership (Bill of Sale) for the vehicle.

But when the victim attempted to register and insure the vehicle, he discovered the title was fraudulent, the odometer had been altered and the Subaru was actually one year older than the seller originally told to him.

After communicating with “Carlos” about these discrepancies, he received an altered New York Certificate of Title that was mailed without a return address, police said.

During the investigation, Monroe police detectives used phone records to develop Jovani Capozziello as a suspect. Based upon this information and the victim’s statements, an arrest warrant was granted by the Superior Court.

View original story: Monroe Sun Article

Posted in NorthEast, Odometer Fraud Statistics, United States

Fennville couple accused of vehicle fraud

NOTFEA

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Montcalm County man is suing a Fennville couple for allegedly selling him a pickup truck that had nearly 150,000 more miles on it than its odometer showed.

Anthony Woldring Roberts and his wife, Ashley Roberts, are accused of violating the Federal Odometer Act, fraud and reselling vehicles without a dealer license through their business, A&A Quality Services.

In the federal lawsuit filed in Grand Rapids Tuesday, lawyers for Jarred Stratton say the couple bought a pickup truck from Chicago businessman Ramiro Padilla, who is accused of purchasing high mileage vehicles and often rolling back the odometers or swapping them out for ones displaying a lower mileage.

The lawsuit accuses Padilla of buying the pickup truck from a Colorado auction, then getting a new title in Illinois, a state that does not disclose mileage in its titles.

The lawsuit claims Padilla posted an internet ad to sell the pickup truck. Stratton’s lawyers say in the ad, Padilla stated the vehicle had around 299,000 miles but he had swapped out the odometer for one that showed 151,000 miles. The ad stated he could correct the odometer or leave it as is, according to the lawsuit.

Stratton’s lawyers said Roberts purchased the pickup truck from Padilla but did not ask him to adjust it to the accurate mileage. He then got a Michigan vehicle title that did not disclose the vehicle’s mileage because it wasn’t listed on the “washed” Illinois title.

The lawsuit claims Roberts advertised the pickup truck with 154,000 miles and never told Stratton otherwise when he purchased the vehicle for $19,500.

Stratton said shortly after he bought the vehicle in November 2017, it started having mechanical issues that have continued to this day. He said he didn’t find out that the mileage was much higher until taking the vehicle to Discount Tire, where the vehicle’s service records showed a much higher mileage.

Stratton said he confronted Roberts about the issue and asked for him to return his money, but he refused.

Additionally, the lawsuit states at least two dozen vehicles Padilla or his associates have dealt with have been flagged by CARFAX for odometer fraud.

Stratton is asking for damages, costs and attorney fees.

Original Article: https://www.woodtv.com/news/allegan-county/fennville-couple-accused-of-vehicle-fraud/1579165551

Posted in Convictions, Midwest, NorthEast, Press Releases, United States

Maine couple stuck with a lemon of a vehicle – and now they know why

NOTFEA

Patrick and Kristi Smith of Waterville stand with their 2005 Subaru Outback after learning Thursday that the vehicle’s seller, James Shaw of Standish, allegedly tampered with the odometer. “It actually answers a bunch of questions for us,” Kristi Smith said. “We’ve had nothing but problems.” Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

When Kristi Smith and her husband, Patrick, bought their Subaru from a Standish man in January 2017, she knew something seemed off.

The 2005 Outback had only 117,000 miles on it, and for the Smith family, the price was right – $3,500.

“We went to go buy the car and the guy wouldn’t look me in the face,” said Kristi Smith, 43. “But it was a really good deal with low miles, so it was like, ‘Whatever.’ ”

Now, 15 months and several thousand dollars in car repairs later, the Smiths are among more than a dozen car buyers who were allegedly suckered by James Shaw, 35, who has been charged with tampering with the vehicles’ odometers and other crimes.

Shaw was supposed to appear Thursday in Cumberland County Unified Criminal Court to answer to the 17-count complaint, but he didn’t show up, so a judge issued a warrant for his arrest, court records show.

The complaint, issued by the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles, is the culmination of two years of work.

Until Thursday, the Smiths were unaware that their vehicle was the subject of a criminal complaint, or that the car’s mileage was fraudulent.

When Kristi Smith heard the charges that Shaw faces, things clicked. The car that Shaw sold the Smiths had closer to 200,000 miles on it when they bought it, the complaint said.

“It actually answers a bunch of questions for us,” she said. “We’ve had nothing but problems with that stinkin’ Subaru.”

The couple has sunk another $3,500 into repairs of the car, and Patrick Smith, 42, said he wouldn’t feel right about selling it knowing it had so many problems.

SUSPECT COULD FACE MULTIPLE YEARS IN JAIL

In all, Shaw is charged with 14 counts of odometer tampering, a Class C felony, and one count each of aggravated forgery, theft by deception, and selling cars without a dealer’s license. Shaw faces up to five years in prison and a maximum $5,000 fine if convicted of the aggravated forgery charge, and one year in jail on each of the odometer tampering charges.

A call to a phone number for Shaw listed in the complaint was not working, and a phone number for his multiple addresses in Standish and Steep Falls could not be located.

Shaw lists himself as self-employed on Facebook, and his page features a prominent photograph of a pristine, late-model Chevrolet Camaro.

Kristi and Patrick Smith of Waterville paid James Shaw $3,500 for this 2005 Subaru, thinking it had only 117,000 miles on it, when in fact the mileage was closer to 200,000. After spending another $3,500 on repairs, they said they wouldn’t feel right about reselling a vehicle with so many problems. Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

According to court records, detectives confronted Shaw at the garage he rents at the Limington airport. When shown documents describing the mileage discrepancies, Shaw said he didn’t remember the sales because of injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident while going 130 mph.

He admitted to replacing odometers in some of the vehicles, but would not say where he got the lower-mileage parts. Shaw said he was told by an employee at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles that he did not need to tell potential buyers that the odometer had been replaced and the mileage was not accurate.

According to a detective, Shaw dealt mostly with vehicles over 10 years old to avoid close scrutiny of the mileage during the title transfer process.

“Shaw admitted to changing the odometers because they were broken when he purchased the vehicle and not disclosing that fact based on inaccurate or incomplete information provided to him,” Detective Roger P. Nagy wrote. “It is nearly impossible to have purchased at least 13 vehicles with broken odometers.”

ONE VICTIM REACTS: ‘YOU’VE MADE MY DAY’

Some of Shaw’s alleged victims also were close to him.

In one case described in the detective’s narrative filed in court papers, a Gorham woman, Gina Pressey, told investigators that Shaw had been her friend for some time and that she was also his hairstylist.

Pressey told them that Shaw bragged how he often bought and sold vehicles without getting the title in his name – a practice known as “floating” a title.

In Maine, a vehicle dealer is considered anyone who buys vehicles for the purpose of resale, sells more than five vehicles in any 12-month period, or who in a 30-day period advertises three or more vehicles for sale, or displays three or more vehicles for sale on a premises they control.

Pressey asked Shaw if he could find her a car with less than 120,000 miles. Shaw told her he found a 2004 Ford with 88,000 miles on it, but because the car’s computer had been changed, it showed 190,000 miles.

Pressey believed him that the actual mileage was lower and bought the car. She told detectives that if she had known the car had been driven nearly 200,000 miles, she wouldn’t have bought it.

Another alleged victim, Carol Fahey of Wells, bought a Subaru from Shaw in June 2016, but quickly discovered that one of the car’s subframes, the heavy metal structure onto which the suspension is attached, was rotted out.

Shaw had painted over the rust to conceal it, the court records state.

Fahey confronted Shaw and he told her he would fix the car – a promise he never followed through on, she said in a phone interview.

That was nearly two years ago, she said. Fahey kept calling the BMV detective and feeding him information on Shaw’s activities online.

When Fahey learned that Shaw was to face felony charges, she rejoiced.

“You’ve made my day,” said Fahey, 61. “I’ve been obsessed with this guy.”

Matt Byrne can be contacted at 791-6303 or at:

mbyrne@pressherald.com

Twitter: MattByrnePPH

Original Article: https://www.pressherald.com/2018/05/18/maine-couple-stuck-with-a-lemon-of-a-vehicle-and-now-they-know-why/

Posted in NorthEast, Odometer Fraud Statistics, Press Releases, Television, United States

Man pleads guilty to running license plate fraud ring

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A New York man has admitted to operating a crime ring that rented out more than a thousand fake Pennsylvania license plates.

Rafael Levi, 51, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty Friday in Dauphin County Court to 36 third-degree felonies, Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office said. Levi was charged in April 2017 with more than 500 counts.

Prosecutors said the ring charged $400 a month for fake plates that people used in order to avoid paying more than $1 million in parking fines and highway tolls in New York, Pennsylvania, and neighboring states.

The ring dubbed “Operation Car Wash” also provided fake insurance cards, rolled back odometer readings on cars it bought and sold, and issued phony letters to PennDOT to get clean vehicle titles.

Levi also pleaded guilty on behalf of nine businesses. Each will be ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 and a civil penalty of $15,000.

Eight members of the ring also pleaded guilty Friday to crimes including theft and insurance fraud.

Shapiro said his office is seeking restitution of more than $1.5 million from the defendants.

As part of his plea, Levi agreed to forfeit numerous luxury vehicles including a 2015 Rolls Royce Wraith, a 2015 Ferrari, and a 2007 Ferrari F430.

Original Article: http://abc27.com/2018/03/12/man-pleads-guilty-to-running-license-plate-fraud-ring/

Posted in Convictions, NorthEast, Television, United States

Massachusetts State police warn of vehicle odometer rollback scam

NOTFEA

The Massachusetts State Police, in conjunction with the Missouri Highway Patrol have been investigating a series of consumer frauds, related to the purchase and subsequent sale of motor vehicles by a man and woman residing in Connecticut and the Kansas City Metropolitan area.

The couple purchases a vehicle, typically from the Craigslist internet auction site. The vehicle’s mileage reading is altered and the vehicle is placed back on Craigslist. The two suspects pose as the previous owners of the vehicle. The investigation revealed approximately 48 vehicle purchases/sales within the past year in the Kansas City Missouri area and an undetermined number of vehicles sold in the Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. It is possible not all the transactions involve an odometer rollback. Investigators are seeking to discuss these transactions with the sellers and purchasers of these vehicles. There has been no indication of impropriety on behalf of the sellers or purchasers, and investigators are still trying to determine the potential number of victims.

The suspects do not use their names during, and typically use disposable pay-as-you-go cell phones. The man is approximately 5’9”, medium build, and has an “East Coast” accent. If present, the woman typically stays in a green Nissan Quest minivan with their children while the transactions are conducted.

If you or someone you know has purchased a vehicle from these individuals please contact Massachusetts State Police Compliance Unit Trooper Stephen Walker, at 857-368-8626.

Original Article: https://www.newbedfordguide.com/massachusetts-state-police-warn-of-vehicle-odometer-rollback-scam/2017/06/01

Posted in Convictions, NorthEast, Odometer Fraud Statistics, Title Fraud, United States

Road Warrior: Low miles? Used car may be too good to be true

NOTFEA

Hardly anybody I know pays much attention to the odometer reading when buying a used car — unless, of course, it’s exceptionally high. After all, low mileage is usually the main qualifier when buying a pre-owned vehicle because it suggests the two of you will likely enjoy a few more good years before it gives you serious trouble.

But judging by an arrest for odometer fraud in South Hackensack a week ago, ignoring a low-mileage reading might mark the beginning of serious trouble. “Odometer fraud? How’d they do that?” said Sal, an otherwise astute car owner I know from Barnegat.

Like me, Sal thought rolling back odometers was the kind of crime that all but disappeared when computers were introduced in most cars around the end of the 20th century. Those of us who began driving when hood ornaments were still popular remember how amateur mechanics would break into the odometer housing behind the dashboard and roll back the miles by hand.

Those days are long gone. And so is the housing, said Robert Foster, an officer in a consortium of state investigators called the National Odometer and Title Fraud Enforcement Association.

“It’s easier to do now than it was before computerization,” said Foster. “With the right kind of knowledge and software, a mechanic can get into the onboard computer and reset the mileage to anything he wants.”

Theoretically, it doesn’t always require a master mechanic to do this dirty work.

“Diagnostic and computerized equipment can be purchased online,” said Maureen Parenta, a spokeswoman for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. “And there are how-to blogs and Internet videos” that can easily be accessed.

In the South Hackensack case, Alon Levin, owner of HQ Custom Design, was charged for allegedly using diagnostic equipment to access vehicle computers and lower odometer readings by tens of thousands of miles since 2012. It’s unclear which kinds of vehicles were affected, but Levin’s company website said the business specializes in customizing big-ticket luxury vehicles. Because the investigation is ongoing, Parenta couldn’t disclose how the fraud was uncovered, but police say investigations usually are initiated by sellers who belatedly realized they’ve paid more than several hundreds of dollars to buy vehicles with mileage reductions in the tens of thousands.

The losses don’t always stop there.

If a car is financed, the bank or finance company will likely increase the interest rate on the car loan. Insurance companies can hike the premium, too. And maintenance costs will likely rise faster for a car with 70,000 miles than it would have if it had been driven just 40,000.

Still, turning back an odometer requires a little more than a screwdriver and a little online know-how.

“Yes, the procedure only requires a scanner and the right software,” said mechanic Brian Shanahan, who owns Washington Garage in Bergenfield. “But the logistics aren’t so easy. The software is proprietary. If you work on cars for a living, you need authorization, which usually means you have to be a licensed franchisee who’s legally bound by a code of ethics. If you do something unethical or illegal, you lose the license, which means you can’t work on certain car makes. Essentially, you can lose your business.”

To say nothing of the legal penalties, especially for cases involving hundreds of vehicles.

Foster, an investigator for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, has helped in federal prosecutions that put violators in jail for five years or more. “Fines can be levied per vehicle and they can run in the tens of thousands,” he said. “On top of that, restitution can be ordered for thousands more.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nearly 500,000 annual usedcar sales in the United States involve odometer fraud. The cost to the American consumer: Easily $1 billion a year.

In the last 10 years in New Jersey, courts have individually held several dealerships responsible for cheating buyers out of $1 million or more. Frequently, these cases cross state lines. In one 2008 settlement, a defendant pleaded guilty to electronically rolling back odometers as much as 100,000 miles in cars sold in Brooklyn and Hackensack. One Ramsey dealer and its affiliates were initially assessed more than $900,000, a figure that was later reduced to $250,000. Last month, the state sued a Lodi used-car dealership — European Auto Expo — for deceptive practices that included one sale in which mileage allegedly was rolled back 60,000 miles.

Federal law requires that sellers register the mileage on the odometer at the time of sale. If the mileage is incorrect, a seller must disclose that fact to the buyer in a statement. But cars more than 10 years old are exempt.

“That loophole is more significant today than when the law was passed,” said Foster, “because cars last an average of about 11½ years now.”
Various law-enforcement groups are lobbying Congress to close the loophole.

Meanwhile, what can car buyers do to protect themselves?

NHTSA suggests asking to see the title and maintenance reports to ensure the mileage reported on these documents is consistent with mileage on the odometer. Foster suggests carefully checking brakes, clutch pedals and other vehicle components for wear to determine if they show wear consistent with odometer mileage.

“And always get a CarFax vehicle history report when buying a used car,” he added. “In most cases, it contains the information needed to make a wise purchase.”

Original Article: http://www.northjersey.com/news/road-warrior-low-miles-used-car-may-be-too-good-to-be-true-1.1556117

Posted in Geographic Locations, News Articles, NorthEast, NOTFEA news, Odometer Fraud Statistics, Television, Title Fraud, United States

Car dealer who fraudulently sold cars damaged in Hurricane Sandy gets 3 years in prison

NOTFEA
Christopher Baxter | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Jonathan Olin, 42, of Manalapan, was sentenced to three years in prison today for orchestrating the creation of false vehicle titles in order to sell cars damaged during Hurricane Sandy, state authorities said. (Courtesy of N.J. Attorney General’s Office)

TRENTON — A Middlesex County car dealer who used fraudulent vehicle titles to sell cars damaged during Hurricane Sandy was sentenced today to three years in state prison, state authorities said.

Jonathan Olin, 42, of Manalapan, for former operator of D&D Auto Sales in Old Bridge, admitted in August that he obtained fraudulent “clean” titles for eight vehicles, seven of which were sold to unsuspecting customers by Pinky N Brain Corp., doing business as D&D.

One of his associates, Jessie Dinome, 30, of Jackson, a former employee at the Freehold Motor Vehicle Agency, accessed state computers to create the false titles, the state Attorney General’s Office said. Dinome was sentenced to probation in October.

The seven vehicles were sold for a total of about $86,000, authorities said. Olin pleaded guilty to theft by deception and was ordered to pay full restitution to the victims. A third person, Jacob Douek, 40, of Staten Island, N.Y., still faces charges in the scheme.

The case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the state Motor Vehicle Commission after receiving information from the National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program and ABC News, which investigated how flooded vehicles ended up on car lots.

Original Article: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/car_dealer_who_fraudulently_sold_cars

Posted in Convictions, News Articles, NorthEast, Press Releases, Television, Title Fraud, United States

(Grand Rapids) Target 8: Odometer rollback revealed

NOTFEA
Odometer on Dashboard

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Marc Libants was attached to his old Honda Civic. He even refers to the 1997 four-door as a ‘she.’ He said it wasn’t easy giving her up, but he had no need for the old car anymore, so he sold it.

Two days later, he spotted the Civic up for sale online. He knew it was his because it was missing the Honda insignia due to a previous incident. It also listed the phone number of the person to whom he had sold the car.

“I got a little suspicious and as I read the ad, it said that the car had 127,000 miles on it and that kind of made some alarm bells go off,” said Libants.

He said that wouldn’t be possible “unless he drove it in reverse for a long, long ways.”

Target 8 has warned consumers about people rolling back odometers so they can jack up the price of old cars.

When Libants saw the ad, he said, the car was being sold for $3,000. He had just sold it for only $800.

Target 8 called the number on the ad and an undercover investigator met Antonio Lopez at the car in Grand Rapids.

Lopez confirmed he was selling the car for $3000 because it had “no rust, good tires, brakes, clutch,” and he referenced the mileage.

The undercover buyer told Lopez she was recording with her cellphone, but Lopez didn’t realize he was talking to a Target 8 investigator.

When asked about the mileage, Lopez said, “Only 126,000 miles. Close to 127,000. And the engine always kept clean.”

That’s nowhere near the mileage CarFax showed when Target 8 ran the Civic’s vehicle identification number (VIN).

And the car’s previous owner, Marc Libants, had a receipt from an old repair at Fox Honda showing the car had 254,000 miles on it back in 2008. Libants also said the car had 332,000 miles on it when he sold it to Lopez.

That means the 1997 Honda Civic has driven 205,000 more miles than what was advertised online.

Less than an hour after our undercover buyer met Lopez, he sent a text message saying the car had been sold. He then stopped taking our calls.

But Target 8 discovered the car still sitting where the undercover buyer met him, so our investigators waited. When Lopez showed up, he took off in the Honda. Target 8 followed him, but he rushed inside a house as our crew walked up.

Another man at the house who had been talking with Lopez before Lopez rushed inside, told Target 8 that Lopez had just sold the car to him and started explaining the mileage before Target 8 asked about it.

“The airbag is broken, so he replaced the steering wheel and the odometer,” the man said.

Target 8 brought the case to Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.

“Any time we can help, we try. Many times, these become civil suits,” said Johnson.

Title and registration information on Lopez obtained through Johnson’s office shows nearly a dozen cars linked to Yariel Antonio Lopez and Wilfredo Lopez Mendez. It showed a couple of different addresses, including the address where Target 8 followed Lopez and spoke to the man who said he’d bought the Honda.

The Target 8 inquiry prompted a state investigation. The Secretary of State Office says it is investigating a possible unlicensed dealer in the case.

There are things you can do before you buy to make sure you’re not taken advantage of.

Run the VIN through a service like CarFax. But keep in mind that CarFax won’t always show a vehicle’s current mileage, so you should also ask to see service records showing the mileage. Also consider whether the wear and tear on the car is consistent with the mileage on the car.

According to CarFax, 20,000 cars on the road in Michigan have a rolled back odometer.

Both CarFax and the Secretary of State’s office have a list of tips when buying a used car from an individual rather than a licensed dealer.

Original Artical: http://woodtv.com/2014/09/22/target-8-cars-with-more-mileage-than-you-think/

Posted in Convictions, Midwest, NorthEast, Odometer Fraud Statistics, Press Releases, Television, United States

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  • Odometer Fraud

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  • Three Chicago Men Charged with Odometer and Title Fraud

  • Brown Sentencing Press Release

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The National Odometer and Title Fraud Enforcement Association (NOTFEA) is a non-profit, professional organization formed originally in 1980 as the National Odometer Enforcement Association (NOEA).

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Membership in NOTFEA is restricted to individuals working for law enforcement and consumer protection agencies, licensing and motor vehicle departments, and private attorneys and investigators who are responsible for detecting, deterring, and prosecuting odometer, rebuilt/salvage, and other title fraud offenders under state, federal, and other applicable laws.

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