V5C Fraud - Scammed by a buyer interested in my car

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victor2 said:

Tokmon said:

mattyprice4004 said:

In theory they could order a key from the dealership with the V5, then just walk up and take the car. I'd make sure it's blocked in etc personally!

This definitely can't be done without the car because as others have said it needs to be programmed to the car otherwise the immobiliser won't allow it to start.

So how do they do it if the only key to your locked car has been lost? Just curious, as I hopefully will never be in that position.

They put the ecu into a service mode and register the new key.

If the car says BMW on the back, this is so easy a toddler can do it. If it says Ford, the toddler usually needs to leave their laptop plugged into the OBD port while they drive the car, but a slightly more able thief would simply code it to their key.

If it says Honda or Toyota, rumour has it that they need one active key to put it in service mode- I doubt it, more likely there isn't enough demand to make it worth the effort of getting the software to do it without.

Fiats always claimed this, and if you lost the master key you needed a complete new ECU, but 500 Abarths are stolen all the time without a key, maybe the electrics are Ford based, the 500 and the KA are identical under the skin.

Belenus

facade said:

victor2 said:

Tokmon said:

mattyprice4004 said:

In theory they could order a key from the dealership with the V5, then just walk up and take the car. I'd make sure it's blocked in etc personally!

This definitely can't be done without the car because as others have said it needs to be programmed to the car otherwise the immobiliser won't allow it to start.

So how do they do it if the only key to your locked car has been lost? Just curious, as I hopefully will never be in that position.

.....Fiats always claimed this, and if you lost the master key you needed a complete new ECU, but 500 Abarths are stolen all the time without a key,.....

Who steals 500 cars at a time?

Penelopa.Pitstop

facade said:

Fiats always claimed this, and if you lost the master key you needed a complete new ECU, but 500 Abarths are stolen all the time without a key, maybe the electrics are Ford based, the 500 and the KA are identical under the skin.

Aren't Abarths stolen because they don't have immobiliser from factory?

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Penelopa.Pitstop said:

facade said:

Fiats always claimed this, and if you lost the master key you needed a complete new ECU, but 500 Abarths are stolen all the time without a key, maybe the electrics are Ford based, the 500 and the KA are identical under the skin.

Aren't Abarths stolen because they don't have immobiliser from factory?

I very much doubt that, that would make them probably the only cars made in the last 25 years without transponder keys.

Most motorbikes don't have them though, my 650 deauville did- Honda call it HISS, but you programme a new key by grounding one of the wires to the ecu

jimjames

Biggus_Dickus said:

afcj123 said:

Biggus_Dickus said:

Is this how it’s done?

It appears to be a simple online procedure to request a new V5c logbook if you pretend to be the registered keeper and you request a change of address.

If the scammer provides the V5c registration number, the car reg number and registered keepers present post-code a new V5c will be sent out to the scammers chosen address forthwith.

I’d be interested to know how the scammer managed to change the registered keepers ‘name’ as well as the address.

There appears to be two separate DVLA procedures if one wishes to change the registered keepers details.

Simply changing the registered keepers  address can be completed 100%  online;...however, changing both the registered keepers name and address at the same time involves sending the original V5c off to the DVLA. 

It's very easy. You can do the whole process of new keeper online.
If I have the V5 reference & reg no I can change the details with DVLA and get a new V5 sent to the address I enter. Never tried address change but done many owner changes and it's incredibly simple. Based on the info in this thread, probably far too simple.