NEWS RELEASE
WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
*************************
The Waterloo Regional Police Service is issuing a warning to members of the public to be wary of an emerging used car sale scam.
The used car sale scam involves fraudsters advertising vehicles for sale online. The victim then meets with the fraudster and arrangements are made for the sale of the vehicle. There is no used vehicle information packages (UVIP) provided by the purported seller, usually only a make-shift bill of sale. The vehicle is sold “as-is” and the buyer is told they will need to have a safety inspection completed by a mechanic before registering the vehicle with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO).
Once the victim has a safety inspection completed (and pays for required repairs), they attend the MTO to obtain license plates and a permit and discover that the vehicle is stolen.
In one instance, a Kitchener resident arranged to purchase a used vehicle from a seller in the Greater Toronto Area. After paying $5,000 for the vehicle, the victim received a bill of sale and a signed ownership slip. The victim then further paid $1,500 to complete the repairs required to obtain a Safety Standards Certificate. When the victim attended the MTO to transfer the vehicle into their name, the victim was informed that the vehicle was stolen. The victim contacted police who confirmed that the vehicle had previously been reported stolen from York Region.
To protect yourself and others from this scam, consider the following when purchasing a used vehicle:
- Carefully review the Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). In Ontario, sellers must legally provide this package to a buyer when selling a pre-owned vehicle.
- Request the seller provide valid personal identification and compare it to the ownership - they must match.
- Ask for a vehicle identification number (VIN) check and request to take the car for an independent inspection.
- Beware of sellers who want to close the sale as quickly as possible. Take time to think the purchase through, ask questions and consult with a professional.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the used car sale scam to contact police by calling 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.
*************************
