By Catherine Powell
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| Image courtesy Pixabay |
Only once have I had to deal with the theft of my car. That was way back in 1997, when I awoke one morning to discover my Jeep wasn't parked in my driveway where I left it the night before. Two calls later; One to the police and the other to my insurance agent and the problem was soon solved. No, I didn't get my Jeep back, although the cops eventually caught the culprit and recovered the vehicle. By that time the insurance company had cut me a check and I purchased another car. But it was sure nice to find out that I wasn't on hook for the balance I owed the lender. I even walked away with enough to put a $1,000 down payment down on my new ride. That isn't always the case for victims of auto identity theft. This is a high-tech crime that involves forged documentation intended to get you to plunk your hard-earned cash down on a stolen vehicle. So prevalent is this form of fraud that even some dealers have been duped. If this should happen to you, not only will you be out the purchase price, but the cops will confiscate the vehicle, leaving you with no cash and no ride. To keep you from falling into this money pit, I've come up with ten tips designed to help you recognize this 21st Century ripoff before you get taken to the cleaners.
