09/09/2025
From a post on NextDoor:WARNING NOTICE!; - - USED CAR BUYERS BEWARE - - IMPORTANT!!
If You Are Looking To Purchase A Used Car Anytime Soon, BEFORE You Look At ANY Vehicles For Sale In The Tri-state Area, READ THIS; - -
FACT; There is an electronic device known as an 'odometer rollback tool' that is available for purchase with a rough cost of about $200 bucks, via Amazon or even some retailers' automotive section. This device is not illegal in itself, but it is being used illegally by some individuals and businesses selling USED CARS that easily plugs into a cars standard diagnostic port, and is designed SPECIFICALLY to electronically roll back the digital odometer display of a vehicle to any pre-set number the person doing so may choose. This can make !00,000 miles or MORE disappear INSTANTLY, thus "raising" the sale "value" of the vehicle by THOUSANDS of dollars. ODOMETER ROLLBACK not new, but IS ILLEGAL.
FACT; Close to half a MILLION vehicles are sold in the U.S. annually with false and illegally adjusted odometer readings. And keep in mind there are also flood / hurricane damaged insurance 'write-offs' being re-sold out there too.
What's your defense against this illegal activity? Check the vehicles actual history report on CARFAX - ( have the vehicle's VIN # handy ) - and/or have the vehicle scanned with an ADVANCED OBD2 scanner, which can access various programs in the cars electronics and detect the change and or the original mileage.
FACT; You can sue for fraud and damages in court for up to $10,000 per offense for odometer fraud. Odometer fraud carries severe penalties of up to $250K per offense, as well as possible jail time, and violates the Odometer Fraud Act, signed into law in 1972.
What to do if you should encounter this, or are already a victim of this scam? First, document the information/situation and the location of the person or business engaged in this scam. Next, Let 'em have it but GOOD; - by contacting;
1) The Federal Trade Commission - @; 1 -877- FTC HELP
2) The State Attorney Generals office for your state
3) The state Office Of Consumer Protection for your state
4) The Better Business Bureau @; 1 - 703 / 276 - 0100
5) The State Board of Vehicle Manufacturers, Dealers & Salespersons (which oversees any business selling vehicles.)
6) Take legal action by filing a lawsuit for fraud and damages.
NOTE; THIS IS - AND HAS BEEN - CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN THE ENTIRE TRI-STATE REGION AS YOU READ THIS.
CLOSING FACTS TO REMEMBER; Beware of possible flood/ hurricane insurance 'write off' vehicles also. Look that car over carefully and/or get an independent eval by a trusted experienced mechanic too. Scams of all sorts are absolutely rampant everywhere these days. . . .Stay alert, observant and informed."
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