Caution - Counterfeit Irish logbooks

tashiusclay · 07-05-2012 11:50pm #1

Just want to put up a quick warning to people planning on buying based on my own experience recently, I bought a vehicle (I don't want to put up any specifics as yet) a little while back, did the usual checks, a finance check from the reg number in the ad, then when I went to view the vehicle, I checked the chassis number matched the logbook etc. Everything seemed ok,
so I bought the vehicle. Got a phonecall a few weeks after the logbook was sent off from the Gardai saying that the vehicle in my possession was stolen a number of months ago.

What happened was, the vehicle was stolen, complete with keys. Then plates were fitted with reg numbers that matched another 'clean' identical vehicle,
then a logbook was printed up to match both the new plates fitted, and the chassis number etc on the stolen vehicle.

In future I'll never assume the logbook in front of me of the car I'm thinking of buying is genuine, I'll always either ring shannon with the details of the logbook inc the serial number to see if everything matches up, or I'll ring the Gardai to see if they can run a stolen check on the actual chassis number on the vehicle, not just the reg number. I'm not sure can the Gardai give out this sort of info over the phone though.

I'll live and learn from my mistake, but I hope this info can avoid someone else from getting stung like I did.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 07-05-2012 11:59pm

Bad luck op. Just shows you can never be too careful. What happened anyway, was the vehicle taken from you i presume?

Jimbob 83 · 08-05-2012 12:02am

jar_of_coins wrote: »

Bad luck op. Just shows you can never be too careful. What happened anyway, was the vehicle taken from you i presume?

Kind of puts it in perspective when people say "If you like the car just buy it lolz"

Stinicker · 08-05-2012 12:09am

The logbook has an Irish Harp embossed watermark, was this faked too? If so it was pretty serious. Oh and never pay cash, always pay by cheque, if you had paid by cheque there may have been a paper trail leading back to the scumbag who conned you OP.

Jimbob 83 · 08-05-2012 12:11am

Most people won't take bank drafts nevermind cheques tbh.

Mycroft H · 08-05-2012 12:18am

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Most people won't take bank drafts nevermind cheques tbh.

Exactly. I would never take a cheque.

Forged VLC certs is nothing new unfortunately, though it going to get increasingly common as time passes.

Ardent · 08-05-2012 12:21am

WOuld a Cartell check not have identifed the car as stolen?? Last time I used the service, I had to input the VIN...

Alanstrainor · 08-05-2012 12:23am

Ardent wrote: »

WOuld a Cartell check not have identifed the car as stolen?? Last time I used the service, I had to input the VIN...

The plates were copied from a clean car and put on the stolen car.

Ardent · 08-05-2012 12:33am

I'm taking about the VIN/chassis number which I got from the side of the engine on my last purchase. This was a manadatory field for my Cartell check.

wmpdd3 · 08-05-2012 12:35am

Then the diference between the vin and the reg should have surfaced?

mickdw · 08-05-2012 12:39am

Yes a history check would have shown up this scam as these checks do flag if there are differences between expected chassis number and the chassis number you enter which in this case would be the number as inspected on the stolen car. The history check people would have the true chassis number on record so would definitely have shown this up regardless of whether there was any stolen report against the reg.

Ardent · 08-05-2012 12:39am

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Then the diference between the vin and the reg should have surfaced?

Well yeah. Or you can't get a cartell report. Either way, walk away.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 08-05-2012 12:41am

Op did a finance check alone based on the reg, then compared the VIN on the car to the VIN on the logbook, that's why nothing was flagged

biko · 08-05-2012 8:16am

The amount of work thieves will go through to trick honest people out of their money, fecking pissing me off.
If they only put that kind of work into a real job they wouldn't have to make everyone else's lives miserable.

Compton · 08-05-2012 8:24am

You know there's a temperature activated point on the back you can press that changes colour to make sure its genuine!

Anan1 · 08-05-2012 8:37am

jar_of_coins wrote: »

Op did a finance check alone based on the reg, then compared the VIN on the car to the VIN on the logbook, that's why nothing was flagged

So the moral of the story is to provide all details for the history check?

Cuddlesworth · 08-05-2012 8:42am

Compton wrote: »

You know there's a temperature activated point on the back you can press that changes colour to make sure its genuine!

I'm looking at one right now, is it the circle to the right of the signature?

Compton · 08-05-2012 8:49am

yes, press and hold it with your thumb and it changes colour.

ShadowHearth · 08-05-2012 9:00am

I really feel sorry for you OP. now it's no money and no car

.

Just what year was the car? Was it newish or something old m8?

ShadowHearth · 08-05-2012 9:06am

Sorry, double post, fecking phone.

Atlantic Dawn · 08-05-2012 9:21am

There's alot to be said for always meeting the seller at their address which matches that on the VLC.

Ardent · 08-05-2012 9:25am

Anan1 wrote: »

So the moral of the story is to provide all details for the history check?

I think so. With everyone having web-enabled phones these days it's quite easy to do the full check on the spot.

kildare.17hmr · 08-05-2012 10:13am

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

There's alot to be said for always meeting the seller at their address which matches that on the VLC.

Always do this. Bought a car last week for the other half and met the seller in the town, looked it over and went on test drive and decided to by it. Said lets go to your house and have a chat, if they refuse i walk away. Only one guy ever refused iirc

Caution - Counterfeit Irish logbooks

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