See the moment a VIN switcher is caught at a Ford dealership | Carscoops

      It is not clear whether the driver of the Subaru was arrested for their role in the VIN swapping operation.

      A Texas dealership recently recorded a customer involved in a VIN-switching operation on video.

      According to police investigators, the Subaru BRZ was displaying plates from Guatemala.

      Criminals are using fraudulent VINs to disguise stolen vehicles, which are subsequently sold online.

      Authorities in Crosby, Texas, recently apprehended a customer at the Friendly Ford dealership after suspecting that the Subaru BRZ he was driving was connected to a VIN-switching scheme. The dramatic arrest was captured by the dealership’s security cameras, and police are advising residents to carefully check the VIN of any vehicle they plan to purchase.

      Limited information is available about the customer, but Rick Guzman, the dealership's finance director, mentioned that the sales staff greeted the man upon his arrival. Shortly thereafter, several undercover police officers arrived at the scene as part of an ongoing investigation into VIN-switching. These officers were from the Harris County Sheriff’s auto theft division and were accompanied by deputy constables from Precinct 3.

      According to one of the investigating officers, the Subaru had been under surveillance for a considerable time and had even been seen with Guatemalan license plates, which raised further suspicions.

      Police indicate that criminals have started producing fake VINs, which they either cover or replace the original ones typically found at the base of a car’s windshield. Many of these stolen vehicles are then resold on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace.

      “They’re printing out fictitious VINs and either placing them over or replacing the VIN that came with that vehicle,” Sgt. Eduardo Rivera told KHOU 11 News last week.

      VIN switching, also referred to as VIN swapping, is not a new tactic but remains a persistent issue, particularly for stolen vehicles that thieves aim to resell. Fake VINs can be easily fabricated to appear legitimate, highlighting the importance for used car buyers to meticulously check and verify a vehicle’s history prior to purchasing. Regardless of whether a car is valued at $5,000 or $50,000, no one wants to end up driving a stolen vehicle.