VIN SCAM protect your ZR-1 - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

WB9MCW · 07-11-2006

This came in an e-mail to me from another vette friend John Potocki "the old dog".......

I have just found out from a friend who runs a very high $$ auto body shop about a new method of car theft. It is your VIN #. If you call a dealership and tell them you lost your keys but have your VIN most will replace your key if you bring them the VIN# and most DO NOT ask for ID.
Obviously you use an out of town dealership . .

The law does not permit moving or altering the VIN but you may cover it as long as the cover is easily removable (tape/index card etc.) for the police or inspection station to verify.

Never thought of this at all but I am going to cover mine today . .

jcp

taximan1 · 07-11-2006

Good info. Also, if you do the car show thing, cover your vin, and never display a window sticker with the vin.

I am in the insurance business, and a large collector car insurer has had multiple theft claims of cars , days after car shows. They had displayed window stickers, and a lot of shows give you a placard with your name and town, to put on your windshield for judging.

Thieves can now walk up to your car at a show to check it out, and write down:

your name
your hometown (then easily get your address)
your vin #
originating dealer (from an original window sticker)

from there they case your house, break in, use the perfectly made key they have, and drive away with your car.

tomtom72 · 07-12-2006

Okay, I know I'm not the brightest light in the fixture....

They can get the VATS code from the VIN #? That's just great! Well mine is a fairly well used one now so I don't do much except for cruise-in type open your clam shell get togethers....I can't keep mine clean enough to show it in a real car show with judges...

I guess the cards from the registry will now have another use!

07-12-2006

They can not get the VATS code from the dealership. It must be measured from the pellet, or from the CCM.

As far as getting your keys cut, dealerships will ask for proof of ownership.

07-12-2006

On top of that, coming from Potocki

Jim Jones · 07-25-2006

Actually, this scam has been around for several years, it's not just Z specific. Thieves get smarter all the time. I arrested a guy on the 4th of July in a stolen van. The van had been stolen in January '06 and he was driving it with stolen tags, get this, the tags were off the exact same kind ofvan, same year, and color. When we called the name that the plates came back to, they didn't even know their license plates had been stolen.

They do the same with junkyards. They go buy a wrecked car and then go steal the exact same car and switch the "visible" VIN plates. Only by checking the other places on the car where the VIN is stamped can you be sure. That's the one that scares me.

Jim

07-11-2006	#1
WB9MCW Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: McHenry, Il. Posts: 6,607	VIN SCAM protect your ZR-1 This came in an e-mail to me from another vette friend John Potocki "the old dog"....... I have just found out from a friend who runs a very high $$ auto body shop about a new method of car theft. It is your VIN #. If you call a dealership and tell them you lost your keys but have your VIN most will replace your key if you bring them the VIN# and most DO NOT ask for ID. Obviously you use an out of town dealership . . The law does not permit moving or altering the VIN but you may cover it as long as the cover is easily removable (tape/index card etc.) for the police or inspection station to verify. Never thought of this at all but I am going to cover mine today . . jcp __________________ http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...9mcw/SIG-2.jpg http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o128/wb9mcw/vcm.gif "The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero, 55 BC " We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." - Abraham Lincoln

07-11-2006	#2
taximan1 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 15	Re: VIN SCAM protect your ZR-1 Good info. Also, if you do the car show thing, cover your vin, and never display a window sticker with the vin. I am in the insurance business, and a large collector car insurer has had multiple theft claims of cars , days after car shows. They had displayed window stickers, and a lot of shows give you a placard with your name and town, to put on your windshield for judging. Thieves can now walk up to your car at a show to check it out, and write down: your name your hometown (then easily get your address) your vin # originating dealer (from an original window sticker) from there they case your house, break in, use the perfectly made key they have, and drive away with your car.

07-12-2006	#3
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: VIN SCAM protect your ZR-1 Okay, I know I'm not the brightest light in the fixture.... They can get the VATS code from the VIN #? That's just great! Well mine is a fairly well used one now so I don't do much except for cruise-in type open your clam shell get togethers....I can't keep mine clean enough to show it in a real car show with judges... I guess the cards from the registry will now have another use! __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

07-12-2006	#4
Jeffvette Guest Posts: n/a	Re: VIN SCAM protect your ZR-1 They can not get the VATS code from the dealership. It must be measured from the pellet, or from the CCM. As far as getting your keys cut, dealerships will ask for proof of ownership.

07-12-2006	#5
Jeffvette Guest Posts: n/a	Re: VIN SCAM protect your ZR-1 On top of that, coming from Potocki

07-25-2006	#6
Jim Jones Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: I'm in a constant state of euphoria in the Z! Posts: 237	Re: VIN SCAM protect your ZR-1 Actually, this scam has been around for several years, it's not just Z specific. Thieves get smarter all the time. I arrested a guy on the 4th of July in a stolen van. The van had been stolen in January '06 and he was driving it with stolen tags, get this, the tags were off the exact same kind ofvan, same year, and color. When we called the name that the plates came back to, they didn't even know their license plates had been stolen. They do the same with junkyards. They go buy a wrecked car and then go steal the exact same car and switch the "visible" VIN plates. Only by checking the other places on the car where the VIN is stamped can you be sure. That's the one that scares me. Jim __________________ Life's too short to be unhappy! [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/koolaid117/Montage.gif[/IMG]