Arizona family warns of people duplicating VIN numbers on cars
PHOENIX, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - There have been reports where people are duplicating the VIN numbers on cars so they can put a lien on your vehicle to get cash.
Hilary Huntley's parents decided to sell their 2015 Chevy Silverado a few months ago to get some much needed cash.
"They've had medical bills. My mom was in the hospital recently. They are just trying to shore up their end of things," Huntley explained.
They put the truck on Facebook Marketplace and Autotrader. In June, they had a buyer. But when her parents went to the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to transfer the title, they were told they couldn't because Huntley's dad actually owed money.
"My dad said, 'No, we most certainly do not. I own this vehicle out right,' and they said, 'No really, there is a $12,000 lien,'" Huntley detailed.
Fraudulant document
A lien he never knew about. It later turned out someone, other than her father, somehow got the truck's VIN number, then created fraudulent documents to get the truck into their name, forging her dad's signature and getting the document notarized to make it look as legitimate as possible.
"He had all of the right stuff," Huntley remarked.
The person then took the forged document to a title loan putting a lien on a truck they never owned and getting $4,000 in cash. The loan went into default, leading to a repo notice being put out on the truck. However, they were never able to find it because the person never had it.
"What worries me is that it could just happen to anyone and you just...you don't know until you go to do something with that vehicle," Huntley expressed.
Sit and wait
12News Phoenix obtained the documents, and it gives the suspect's license, pay stubs, and references. They couldn't reveal the person's name since they haven't been charged with any crime in this case.
However, they did call their number provided to the loan company. It was disconnected.
They also called the four references they provided. Two numbers were disconnected and one did answer, but said they were not the person whose name was listed.
Huntley's parents are now in talks with the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) Fraud Department, but said they are still waiting for someone to help them investigate this situation, meaning for now, they just have to sit and wait.
"That title is still sitting there with a lien against it and my folks are stuck," Huntley declared.
