CARFAX Canada launched a new tool called VIN Fraud Check that alerts auto dealers if a car’s Vehicle Identification Number contains data pointing to potential fraud, or if it has been reported stolen in North America.
In a news release, the company said its new tool will now be available to dealers who access Vehicle History Reports through the CARFAX Canada dealer portal, at no additional charge. The project initiative was accelerated thanks to feedback gathered during an industry roundtable hosted by the Province of Ontario.
“By working closely with vehicle dealers, local police, and the provincial government, we’re equipping Canadian dealers with the tools they need to detect and avoid potential VIN fraud,” said Shawn Vording, President of CARFAX Canada, in a statement.
During the roundtable discussion, government representatives and industry leaders pointed to the need to address rising auto fraud by implementing the new initiatives — including data, technology, and collaboration. In a statement, Jeff Hill, Deputy Chief of Regional Operations of the Halton Regional Police Service, said technologies like VIN Fraud Check are “instrumental in helping police agencies and dealers to identify vehicles being sold fraudulently.”
“Auto theft remains a serious crime in Halton region and beyond,” he said. “It is largely driven by organized crime groups that stop at nothing to evade police detection, including VIN cloning to resell stolen vehicles for profit to fuel additional criminal activities.”
Technologies like VIN Fraud Check, he said, help remove vehicles being sold fraudulently from the pipeline and help keep Canadians safe.
