V5C Fraud - Scammed by a buyer interested in my car

afcj123

I can see that there is another thread detailing the same situation however, I have just been scammed with exactly the same thing and I am devastated.
I listed my car on Autotrader just over a week ago, the first interested buyer that came to look at the car has somehow taken the reference number from the v5 and registered my car in a new name and address.
I must admit, the man seemed nice and polite but I have been well and truly scammed. He asked to see MOT and Service history. He then asked to see the V5, I showed it all to him and he handed it back. He said he wanted to go away and think about buying the car. 
I have reported this to DVLA, they were very quick to tell me that I should never show anybody the V5, I told them that the last time I sold a car was when you had to tear off the green part and hand that to the buyer. I believe since they have allowed buyers to register their V5 online, all owners of vehicles should have been notified of this new online process with a clear warning not to show the V5 under any circumstances. They were not very concerned and have told me it needs to be investigated and all I can do is wait.
I am now sitting and waiting, I have had to remove my car from sale as I am no longer the registered keeper with a valid V5. I am worried what might happen next. I am very concerned with all of this and how easy it is for this to happen, just a little reference number from the V5 can cause the registered keeper to be changed. 

lesalanos

In my opinion you are not the victim of any scam

That person will be the one who buys the cloned car from him 

RobM99

He memorised the 16 digit number? Or am I misunderstanding things?

facade

Very likely, there was a kid at work whose sole talent was the ability to remember any number/password or login & code at one glance.  He used to lurk around apparently disinterestedly, but actually watching people log into their accounts and then he was in.

However, the HPI check requires the number off the V5 if you want to check a car before you buy it!

afcj123

lesalanos said:

In my opinion you are not the victim of any scam

That person will be the one who buys the cloned car from him 

I really hope he doesn't clone my car. I feel like a worried victim.RobM99 said:

He memorised the 16 digit number? Or am I misunderstanding things?

He looked at the log book and handed it back, he had a younger boy with him in his 20s, he looked at it also. I am very upset with myself, I had no idea that this could happen at my own front door.

victor2

Haven't heard of this, but haven't bought or sold a car in years either.

However, why then does the gov.uk site say when buying a used car:

When you go to see the vehicle

Ask to see the V5C vehicle registration certificate (‘log book’). Make sure it has a ‘DVL’ watermark....

afcj123

victor2 said:

Haven't heard of this, but haven't bought or sold a car in years either.

However, why then does the gov.uk site say when buying a used car:

When you go to see the vehicle

Ask to see the V5C vehicle registration certificate (‘log book’). Make sure it has a ‘DVL’ watermark....

Very, very good point. The DVLA advise you to check this document but the moment you show an interested buyer, this could happen and it did happen to me. 

Scrapit

So he has the v5 but nothing else. What is the benefit?

DiddyDavies

RobM99 said:

He memorised the 16 digit number? Or am I misunderstanding things?

If they had planned this, they wouldn't have needed to memorize the number:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Pocket-Pen-Camera-HD-1080P-Spy-Hidden-Portable-Body-Recorder-Video-DVR-UK-/184545710486

facade

Scrapit said:

So he has the v5 but nothing else. What is the benefit?

He probably has the V5 and a car that matches it standing outside the matching address. A week after he sells the car ( at a "bargain" price that means someone will be desperate to snap it up- it will pass an HPI check remember ) the dymo tape VIN number falls off and the current resident of the house isn't him either

Scrapit

facade said:

Scrapit said:

So he has the v5 but nothing else. What is the benefit?

He probably has the V5 and a car that matches it standing outside the matching address. A week after he sells the car ( at a "bargain" price that means someone will be desperate to snap it up- it will pass an HPI check remember ) the dymo tape VIN number falls off and the current resident of the house isn't him either

Yeah but thats just cloning. Nothing new there. The op hasn't lost out, maybe on a sale but if they buyer was there to scam they weren't there to buy anyway.