Odometer Fraud Is on the Rise

Despite being illegal in every state, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) reports nearly half a million cases of odometer fraud every year. Now, the scam has
gone high tech with foreign companies selling software on the Internet that enables con
artists to roll back even digital odometers. By lowering the mileage, they are falsely
inflating the value of the vehicle, and you end up paying much more than you should. Down
the road, you’ll also most likely pay for expensive repairs. According to automotive
experts, the best way to protect yourself from hidden problems is to do your homework
before buying a used vehicle. By getting the VIN number from the vehicle, consumers can
have CARFAX.com run a vehicle history report, which provides the vehicle’s complete
history. If the mileage on the report doesn’t match up with the mileage on the odometer,
it’s a vehicle to avoid.