All used car and motorcycle buyers should be concerned about cloning
Cloning is the identity fraud of the vehicle world. Criminal gangs steal a vehicle, and then give it the identity of a similar vehicle already on the road. The criminals disguise the unique 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and replace it with that of another similar vehicle legally out on the road, as well as using a stolen V5 document to further legitimise its identity.
Cloning is commonly considered a problem that primarily affects cars. However, the Metropolitan Police Stolen Vehicle Unit has also revealed an emerging trend for thieves to employ this tactic with stolen motorcycles. HPI is warning used all buyers to be vigilant against this threat and get protection with the HPI Check.
Nicola Johnson, Consumer Services Manager for HPI, comments, “BBC’s Fake Britain Fake Cars threw the spotlight on a problem which all used vehicle buyers should be concerned about. Whilst cars have been the predominant target for cloners, motorcycles have now also become a prime target. The small size and relatively low security of motorcycles makes them an easier target for thieves, who can simply pick them up and put them in the back of a van. As the Metropolitan Police highlighted, criminals are seemingly taking less care when cloning a motorcycle compared to a car. In most cases the engine numbers have been crudely filed down and a new number imprinted over the top, leaving the original easily spotted.
“Although a vehicle history check cannot directly tell a buyer if a bike or car is a clone, a buyer can use the HPI Check to help look for the tell tale signs that the vehicle is not legitimate. The HPI Check will offer additional protection in the form of the HPI Guarantee, which uniquely to HPI also includes clone cover, as long as the buyer has followed a few simple steps to help avoid falling victim to the clone criminals.”
HPI’s Steps to Avoid a Clone
One - Location: If you’re buying privately, make sure you view it at the registered keeper’s address (as shown on the V5/logbook).
Two – Provenance: Always check the history of the car or bike. One vital check the buyer can do is to find the chassis/frame number (VIN) and engine number on the vehicle to make sure they match the details on the HPI Check and the details on the V5 logbook. In the case of cars, there will be a number of VIN numbers on the vehicle, so make sure they all match each other.
Three – Documents: Check the V5/logbook. Stolen V5 documents are currently being used to accompany cloned vehicles but the HPI Check includes a unique stolen V5 document check as standard. This will confirm whether or not the document is one that the DVLA have recorded as stolen. The car or bike should also be accompanied by a service history and MOT certificates if it is over 3 years old – make sure you see these too. Check the service history is genuine by phoning the dealers that have stamped the vehicle. If they can’t confirm they’ve worked on the vehicle, walk away.
Four – Price: Know the vehicle’s market value. No genuine seller will want to lose money on their sale. If you are paying more than 30% below the retail market value, then be on your guard.
Five – Payment: Don’t pay with a substantial amount of cash, particularly if the vehicle is costing you more than £3,000. Some criminals will take a bankers draft as part payment, because the cash part is sufficient profit without ever cashing the bankers draft. Most crooks selling cloned cars and bikes would rather walk away from a sale than take a payment that could be traced back to them. HPI plays an active role in working with ACPO’s Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service to help solve vehicle crime, and is the only vehicle provenance check provider to include clone cover within its guarantee(3). If the buyer follows HPI buying advice, this can provide up to £30,000 financial reimbursement in the event of the vehicle not being everything it seems – including a clone.
As well as the threat of cloning, used vehicle buyers should also be aware of the other possible pitfalls when buying such as it having outstanding finance or that has been an insurance write-off. If you are buying a car you can visit www.hpicheck.com or if you are buying a bike visit the recently launched www.hpibikecheck.com. Both checks enable buyers to conduct the market leading vehicle history check and benefit from the HPI £30,000 guarantee in the event that the information provided is inaccurate.
Nicola Johnson concludes, “Used bike buyers need to be aware that they are just as at risk from vehicle fraud as car buyers, perhaps even more so due to the relative ease of bike theft. The checks that HPI offer provide a simple and fast way to check a vehicle before they buy, giving added peace of mind.”
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