A report by CTV News revealed a shocking incident in Canada, where a number of buyers discovered they had purchased stolen cars through licensed car dealerships, without knowing that the vehicles were subject to a security investigation.

Among the victims were a couple from the Greater Toronto Area, who bought a "Dodge Durango" from a local dealership, but after weeks of use, they were surprised by a police call informing them that the car was stolen and required for seizure.

A series of organized fraud

According to the investigation, it was found that the car was part of an organized car theft network, which modifies the serial numbers (VIN) of stolen luxury cars and then sells them through intermediaries to car dealerships.

Toronto police stated that this type of operation has become more complex, with advanced techniques used to forge digital and physical documents, making it difficult for dealerships and buyers to detect manipulation.

Buyers facing financial losses

In the cases covered by the report, buyers faced the risk of losing their cars without financial compensation, especially if they did not have adequate insurance coverage against fraud or theft.

A spokesperson for the regional Department of Transportation stated that the legal responsibility lies with the buyer, but the department is now considering implementing additional verification measures for car dealerships to ensure consumer protection from this type of fraud.

Calls for tighter supervision

Lawyers and victims have urged the government to enforce stricter legislation to regulate the used car market, including requiring dealerships to use reliable databases to check serial numbers and ensure the source of vehicles.