Odometer Fraud Made This Car Dealership Thousands of Dollars and Criminal Charges – SlashGear

It can be easy to get caught in a used vehicle purchase scam, with unscrupulous dealers using a wide variety of tactics to artificially inflate the value of the cars they sell. A common scam is odometer fraud, where sellers tamper with a car’s odometer to make it appear as if it has fewer miles than it actually has. An odometer fraud in Pennsylvania has left four people connected to a dealership facing multiple charges, as law enforcement continues to crack down on dealership scams.

The charges, reported by PennLiveinvolve several people associated with Trust Auto Outlet in Guilford Township, Franklin County. Police allege that Frank Burrell, Trevor Daniels, Stephanie Hetzer and Virgie Waters altered the odometer readings of at least 33 cars and then sold those cars to unsuspecting victims for more than their actual value. They are said to have cost the victims more than $100,000 and erased more than 3.7 million kilometers from their car’s odometer. The cars were sold in three states, with some cars sold in Pennsylvania and others in West Virginia and Maryland.

Unfortunately, these types of schemes are far from rare, with criminals able to tamper with digital odometers using special devices. Depending on the number of miles driven, sellers can significantly change buyers’ perception of a car, and therefore how much they are willing to pay for it. Both age and mileage may be equally important to consider when looking for a used car, but its condition should never be ignored either. The condition of a car not only gives you insight into how well the previous owner has cared for the car, but it is also something to consider if you are unsure whether a car’s mileage has been tampered with.

A car with an interior that looks more worn than the mileage suggests can be a red flag for odometer fraud. In particular, look at the wear and tear on the car’s pedals, as worn pedals can be a giveaway even if the rest of the interior isn’t obviously in bad shape. It’s also a good idea to check the car’s title, maintenance records, and any oil change stickers you can find, in case there are any discrepancies between the mileage and those documents. A vehicle that has driven 20,000 miles or less must also have its original tires. If not, ask the seller why the car’s tires were replaced. It is also advisable to request a vehicle history report, or order one online if the seller does not already have one.