03/24/09. Car cloning: stealing the identity of a legitimately-owned vehicle and slapping it onto a stolen car. How does car cloning work? Like the Tampa case, it begins with a stolen vehicle—usually a luxury car or fully-loaded SUV.
So far, 37 states participate or are in the process of participating in the system. A federal law mandated the creation of the database and the participation of all 50 states by next year.
For example: today in Tampa 17 major players in a long-running car cloning criminal enterprise have been indicted by a federal grand jury. FBI Indicts 17 In Tampa-Based Car-Cloning Theft Ring, PI Bill Warner Told You About this Tampa Car Scam Three Years Ago !
The good news is that in the not-too-distance future, a new national database may help make car cloning a thing of the past.
Other phony ownership documents complete the cloning. At that point it can be easily registered with a motor vehicle agency in another state.
Once the stolen vehicle is registered anew, it can be sold. In the Tampa case, more than 1,000 cloned cars were sold to witting and unwitting buyers in 20 states and several countries, with estimated losses of more than $25 million to consumers, auto insurers, and other victims.
So how big is the possible impact of cloning on consumers? Huge. If you buy a cloned vehicle and its true pedigree is discovered, the car will be confiscated, and you’ll still be responsible for any outstanding loans.
The short list of Car Cloners, arrested and or convicted or on the run International Car Importers & Exporters, VIN switchers, compiled by CI William Edwards
includes;
1). Abdurahman Alamoundi…. Shirlington Auto Mart, Arlington VA USA.
2). Camil Assaf & Nizzam Darwish……Tampa Fl USA
3). Abdalla Deiab………………Tampa Fl USA
4). Sheik Abbas Harake……..Beirut used car dealer
5). WASSIM MAZLOUM OWNS TWO USED CAR LOTS IN TOLEDO OH USA.
6). & 7). In Tampa are still under Federal Investigation.
8). Adnan El Shukrijumah ….Miramar Fl USA.
9). Pierre Robert…….. a used car dealer in Tangier Morocco.
10). Restricted informattion on Tampa Fl.
11). Khalid Abu-al-Dahab…… Silicon Valley CA USA
12). Mohammed Ramez Sultan…Munich Germany.
13). Abu>Salem and Dawood> Ibrahim, Kings of Cars, Dubai UAE.
14). Imad Yarkas, a Syrian-born used car dealer (importer) linked to 9/11.
15). MOHAMED ATTA USED CAR DEALER IN HAMBURG By Peter Finn
16). MAMOUN DARKAZANLI–CAR IMPORT/EXPORT COMPANY; HAMBURG GR
17). Mohamad Reda Tabbara Export of Stolen Vehicles, “Black Cars” to Dubai.
18). Hossein Esfahani operated three ChicagoWest Side auto dealerships
19). MANSHA KHAN, MOHAMMED DITA, NAVEED PARVEZ, London UK.
20). MOHAMED YOUSEF AL-NAGHI, exclusive BMW importer Jeddah SA.
21). ABDULRAHMAN HASSAN SHARBATLY, dealer Ferrari, Porshe Jeddah SA
22). SharifF Omar Cottonwood Heights Utah, links to brother in Iraq & al-Qaeda.
23). Ashraf Seleman of NJ vehicles shipped to Dubai and Africa.
24). Universal Auto World Long Island New York
25). Ali Hassan Hammoud
2). Camil Assaf & Nizzam Darwish……Tampa Fl USA
3). Abdalla Deiab………………Tampa Fl USA
4). Sheik Abbas Harake……..Beirut used car dealer
5). WASSIM MAZLOUM OWNS TWO USED CAR LOTS IN TOLEDO OH USA.
6). & 7). In Tampa are still under Federal Investigation.
8). Adnan El Shukrijumah ….Miramar Fl USA.
9). Pierre Robert…….. a used car dealer in Tangier Morocco.
10). Restricted informattion on Tampa Fl.
11). Khalid Abu-al-Dahab…… Silicon Valley CA USA
12). Mohammed Ramez Sultan…Munich Germany.
13). Abu>Salem and Dawood> Ibrahim, Kings of Cars, Dubai UAE.
14). Imad Yarkas, a Syrian-born used car dealer (importer) linked to 9/11.
15). MOHAMED ATTA USED CAR DEALER IN HAMBURG By Peter Finn
16). MAMOUN DARKAZANLI–CAR IMPORT/EXPORT COMPANY; HAMBURG GR
17). Mohamad Reda Tabbara Export of Stolen Vehicles, “Black Cars” to Dubai.
18). Hossein Esfahani operated three ChicagoWest Side auto dealerships
19). MANSHA KHAN, MOHAMMED DITA, NAVEED PARVEZ, London UK.
20). MOHAMED YOUSEF AL-NAGHI, exclusive BMW importer Jeddah SA.
21). ABDULRAHMAN HASSAN SHARBATLY, dealer Ferrari, Porshe Jeddah SA
22). SharifF Omar Cottonwood Heights Utah, links to brother in Iraq & al-Qaeda.
23). Ashraf Seleman of NJ vehicles shipped to Dubai and Africa.
24). Universal Auto World Long Island New York
25). Ali Hassan Hammoud
Miami Fl
If your vehicle is the victim of car cloning, you could be accused of a variety of offenses—from parking tickets or cutting somebody off in traffic…to serious criminal activity like organized crime. And you could spend a great deal of time and money trying to prove that it wasn’t you or your car after all.
Enter NMVTIS, or the
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. This Department of Justice database, operated by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, is an electronic system that links state motor vehicle departments together…and once fully operational should go a long way towards shutting down car cloning activities.
If a car is titled in one state, a criminal should not be able to steal its VIN and use it on another vehicle in another state—the database will spit out a hit showing that the number is already in use.
So far, 37 states participate or are in the process of participating in the system. A federal law mandated the creation of the database and the participation of all 50 states by next year.
Tips on how to steer clear of car cloning:
1). If you think your car was cloned (for instance, you receive notice of unpaid parking tickets that aren’t yours), contact your local police.
2). If you’re car shopping, beware of a car being sold for substantially less than comparable makes and models.
3). Get a copy of the car’s vehicle history report.
4). Check out the VIN plate on the dashboard for any evidence of tampering (scratches, etc.).
5). Look for incorrect spellings on paperwork, like vehicle titles.
6). Trust your intuition—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
1). If you think your car was cloned (for instance, you receive notice of unpaid parking tickets that aren’t yours), contact your local police.
2). If you’re car shopping, beware of a car being sold for substantially less than comparable makes and models.
3). Get a copy of the car’s vehicle history report.
4). Check out the VIN plate on the dashboard for any evidence of tampering (scratches, etc.).
5). Look for incorrect spellings on paperwork, like vehicle titles.
6). Trust your intuition—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Bill Warner
private investigator
It’s a serious crime problem that’s being aggressively investigated by law enforcement, Federal, State and Local. private investigator
For example: today in Tampa 17 major players in a long-running car cloning criminal enterprise have been indicted by a federal grand jury. FBI Indicts 17 In Tampa-Based Car-Cloning Theft Ring, PI Bill Warner Told You About this Tampa Car Scam Three Years Ago !
The good news is that in the not-too-distance future, a new national database may help make car cloning a thing of the past.
Then, the vehicle is “cloned”—its manufacturer-installed Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate is pried off and replaced with another one. This second VIN plate actually holds a legitimate number that came from a vehicle of a similar make and model in a different state.
See my prior post, Tuesday, May 13, 2008, CONFESSIONS OF A FEDERAL CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT, STOLEN CARS FROM TAMPA TO DUBAI IN SUPPORT OF TERRORISM
