V5C Fraud - Beware

Rum_Punched

Afternoon all,

I just wanted to post a warning here to others in the hope I can stop what Is currently happening to me happen to someone else.

Recently when selling my car privately I had a few people come and have a look, took a number of calls on it with the majority being dealers wanting it for nothing. One call I took the guy seemed genuine enough said all the right things, asked me loads asked me to send some pics said he wanted to pay a deposit etc as he liked it but needed to do a HPI. To validate a HPI you need to V5c document reference to make sure it was last issued etc. Last time I sold a car the V5 has to be sent off plus he didn’t have any of my other details (name, address, V5 issue ref etc) just the document ref, VIN and plate so I thought not too much about it. Around 5 days later I get a notification from DVLA notifying me that I am no longer the registered keeper of my own car!!

By time I read this letter it was Sunday afternoon and I am spitting feathers. I call Action Fraud as the police don’t deal with fraud so you get directed there and they are as useful as a chocolate teapot. So I have to do my own investigation as the police wouldn’t because it was fraud and when doing this I then see a replica of my car in a slightly different colour on gumtree seriously underpriced and I also linked the number I was called from to some other fraudulent adverts all of which I have had to submit to DVLA to get my logbook reinstated to me. I then had to log this with the police as there was a cloned car (most likely stolen) out there in the hope someone else doesn’t get stung. The whole process is a PITA and DVLA have have just kept telling me 7-10 working days when I call for an update after I submitted all the necessary photos and evidence to them to get my log book reinstated. I am now not able to drive the car as police have advised that I will most likely be stopped and to have to explain it to an officer may see my car impounded in the short term which leads to a whole new set of issues. We have a young child and the inconvenience is huge.

There is a serious loophole in the online submission system for registering a new keeper as you only need the document reference which the buyer also needs to validate their HPI check and provide them the 30k insurance, so you have to give it over at some point. I certainly wouldn’t buy private without asking for it before I paid any monies over. Further more this was only uncovered as a genuine buyer I gave the reference too flagged it on his HPI that it wasn’t being recognised as the latest V5C so he would have bought the car and then had all these issues if he didn’t check.

Many of you will probably know this but just in case someone didn’t I just wanted to share that on here, a place where I have been coming for years for helpful information in the hope that if someone didn’t know the post could stop it happening to them too.

The DVLA tell you not to share info but what they don’t tell you how easy it is with such little information to cause so much damage. They also have made it easy for scammers with their one tier security process for changing such an important document.

It’s just a waiting game now for the DVLA to return the register to me but it has caused a lot of stress and this has really shook my confidence in the private buying process.

So be warned if you are selling a car that it is as easy as that.

DUTR

Rum_Punched wrote: »

Afternoon all,

I just wanted to post a warning here to others in the hope I can stop what Is currently happening to me happen to someone else.

Recently when selling my car privately I had a few people come and have a look, took a number of calls on it with the majority being dealers wanting it for nothing. One call I took the guy seemed genuine enough said all the right things, asked me loads asked me to send some pics said he wanted to pay a deposit etc as he liked it but needed to do a HPI. To validate a HPI you need to V5c document reference to make sure it was last issued etc. Last time I sold a car the V5 has to be sent off plus he didn’t have any of my other details (name, address, V5 issue ref etc) just the document ref, VIN and plate so I thought not too much about it. Around 5 days later I get a notification from DVLA notifying me that I am no longer the registered keeper of my own car!!

By time I read this letter it was Sunday afternoon and I am spitting feathers. I call Action Fraud as the police don’t deal with fraud so you get directed there and they are as useful as a chocolate teapot. So I have to do my own investigation as the police wouldn’t because it was fraud and when doing this I then see a replica of my car in a slightly different colour on gumtree seriously underpriced and I also linked the number I was called from to some other fraudulent adverts all of which I have had to submit to DVLA to get my logbook reinstated to me. I then had to log this with the police as there was a cloned car (most likely stolen) out there in the hope someone else doesn’t get stung. The whole process is a PITA and DVLA have have just kept telling me 7-10 working days when I call for an update after I submitted all the necessary photos and evidence to them to get my log book reinstated. I am now not able to drive the car as police have advised that I will most likely be stopped and to have to explain it to an officer may see my car impounded in the short term which leads to a whole new set of issues. We have a young child and the inconvenience is huge.

There is a serious loophole in the online submission system for registering a new keeper as you only need the document reference which the buyer also needs to validate their HPI check and provide them the 30k insurance, so you have to give it over at some point. I certainly wouldn’t buy private without asking for it before I paid any monies over. Further more this was only uncovered as a genuine buyer I gave the reference too flagged it on his HPI that it wasn’t being recognised as the latest V5C so he would have bought the car and then had all these issues if he didn’t check.

Many of you will probably know this but just in case someone didn’t I just wanted to share that on here, a place where I have been coming for years for helpful information in the hope that if someone didn’t know the post could stop it happening to them too.

The DVLA tell you not to share info but what they don’t tell you how easy it is with such little information to cause so much damage. They also have made it easy for scammers with their one tier security process for changing such an important document.

It’s just a waiting game now for the DVLA to return the register to me but it has caused a lot of stress and this has really shook my confidence in the private buying process.

So be warned if you are selling a car that it is as easy as that.

Sorry, I think you fell into the trap of being desperate to sell a car, people come to view the car they can ask so many questions, I'm already always dubious about certain types of caller, if they are at a long distance away that's their problem not mine.

a.turner

Rum_Punched wrote: »

Afternoon all,

I just wanted to post a warning here to others in the hope I can stop what Is currently happening to me happen to someone else.

Recently when selling my car privately I had a few people come and have a look, took a number of calls on it with the majority being dealers wanting it for nothing. One call I took the guy seemed genuine enough said all the right things, asked me loads asked me to send some pics said he wanted to pay a deposit etc as he liked it but needed to do a HPI. To validate a HPI you need to V5c document reference to make sure it was last issued etc. Last time I sold a car the V5 has to be sent off plus he didn’t have any of my other details (name, address, V5 issue ref etc) just the document ref, VIN and plate so I thought not too much about it. Around 5 days later I get a notification from DVLA notifying me that I am no longer the registered keeper of my own car!!

By time I read this letter it was Sunday afternoon and I am spitting feathers. I call Action Fraud as the police don’t deal with fraud so you get directed there and they are as useful as a chocolate teapot. So I have to do my own investigation as the police wouldn’t because it was fraud and when doing this I then see a replica of my car in a slightly different colour on gumtree seriously underpriced and I also linked the number I was called from to some other fraudulent adverts all of which I have had to submit to DVLA to get my logbook reinstated to me. I then had to log this with the police as there was a cloned car (most likely stolen) out there in the hope someone else doesn’t get stung. The whole process is a PITA and DVLA have have just kept telling me 7-10 working days when I call for an update after I submitted all the necessary photos and evidence to them to get my log book reinstated. I am now not able to drive the car as police have advised that I will most likely be stopped and to have to explain it to an officer may see my car impounded in the short term which leads to a whole new set of issues. We have a young child and the inconvenience is huge.

There is a serious loophole in the online submission system for registering a new keeper as you only need the document reference which the buyer also needs to validate their HPI check and provide them the 30k insurance, so you have to give it over at some point. I certainly wouldn’t buy private without asking for it before I paid any monies over. Further more this was only uncovered as a genuine buyer I gave the reference too flagged it on his HPI that it wasn’t being recognised as the latest V5C so he would have bought the car and then had all these issues if he didn’t check.

Many of you will probably know this but just in case someone didn’t I just wanted to share that on here, a place where I have been coming for years for helpful information in the hope that if someone didn’t know the post could stop it happening to them too.

The DVLA tell you not to share info but what they don’t tell you how easy it is with such little information to cause so much damage. They also have made it easy for scammers with their one tier security process for changing such an important document.

It’s just a waiting game now for the DVLA to return the register to me but it has caused a lot of stress and this has really shook my confidence in the private buying process.

So be warned if you are selling a car that it is as easy as that.

I'm sorry but that's just b0ll0cks.

Carry a copy of your V5, a photo on you phone will do and your driving licence and you'll be fine to use it.

The police can see when you took out your insurance policy so the dates will tie in with your V5. It'll be clearly evident it's your car.

The problem you will have is you can't drive it as it won't be taxed.

Rum_Punched

I haven’t sold a car for a long time and got caught out. I wasn’t desperate just too trusting. My own fault. Like I mentioned, many of you will know this but there will be some that don’t and my post was just a warning on how easy it is to do.

DUTR

Rum_Punched wrote: »

I haven’t sold a car for a long time and got caught out. I wasn’t desperate just too trusting. My own fault. Like I mentioned, many of you will know this but there will be some that don’t and my post was just a warning on how easy it is to do.

It was years ago when I sold a car privately too, however my vigilance was always the same then.
The majority wouldn't do as you have done , honestly.

Rum_Punched

Years ago it couldn’t be done online so easily. But thanks for your comments ��

Penelopa.Pitstop

It's perfect story to show how cloned cars are sold. Seller has all the right documents, car is registered to his address, etc.

DUTR

Rum_Punched wrote: »

Years ago it couldn’t be done online so easily. But thanks for your comments ��

Less than 6 years ago, people then asked for this and that 'what's the lowest you will take for it' and other BS.

A section of the V5 has to be returned upon sale, so two parts have to tally for a new V5 to be issued, as the new owner would have to purchase a new VED and the current owner possibly get a refund for the existing VED.

There shouldn't be any sudden discovery for the legal keeper.

Rum_Punched

All I know and all my post was about is how easy it is to transfer it online now, years ago you had to send the physical log book signed to DVLA. It's been logged with the police (who have advised me against driving it) and hopefully the cloned car is picked up along with the fraudsters. If someone comes to look at your car when selling and gets hold of your doc ref, that is all it takes. I'm no car tradesman and this is not something I have experience with so let my naivety/stupidity whatever you want to call it be a warning. That is all.

A good explanation here:
youtube.com/watch?v=mdEnF5CQ_HA

a.turner

Rum_Punched wrote: »

All I know and all my post was about is how easy it is to transfer it online now, years ago you had to send the physical log book signed to DVLA. It's been logged with the police (who have advised me against driving it) and hopefully the cloned car is picked up along with the fraudsters. If someone comes to look at your car when selling and gets hold of your doc ref, that is all it takes. I'm no car tradesman and this is not something I have experience with so let my naivety/stupidity whatever you want to call it be a warning. That is all.

A good explanation here:
youtube.com/watch?v=mdEnF5CQ_HA

For how long?


There's absolutely no reason to stop driving it.

Rum_Punched

They said until the V5 has been confirmed as re-registered. I agree I should be able to drive it but they advised not to as I will get pulled over constantly and could jeopardise the clone getting picked up.

DUTR - I mean to cause you no offence but the vid was for everyone just so they can see it explained better by a motor trader.