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TAKING ACTION | Odometer fraud big in Florida

Posted at 11:04 PM, Feb 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-05 23:38:09-05
Carfax estimates the odometers on one million cars in the USA have been tampered with.
 
Florida ranks 4th in the nation with 64,000 altered vehicles.
 
TAKING ACTION FOR YOU
 
The 1997 Ford F-150 appeared to be the perfect pick up for Tracey Schmidt's son.
 
The odometer showed 168,000 miles which seemed about right for an 18 year old's vehicle.

She never suspected what she would soon find out.

After the truck broke down again and again, Schmidt pulled a car fax report. It showed the pick-up had nearly 300,000 miles on it.

Florida ranks number four in the nation in odometer fraud.

What many consumers don’t realize, crooks find it easier to tamper with a newer car's odometer, then older cars.

FHP says crooks use computers and software to alter the mileage -- often costing the victims $4000 or more in losses.

Just three months ago, FHP arrested a Tampa man for selling a Honda and a Toyota with tampered odometers. The suspect listed the Corolla with 33,000 miles when it actually had over 200,000 miles.

How can you tell?

Check out the wear and tear on the vehicle. Does it match the mileage?

There's only one sure way to find out just how many miles are on the car you are about to buy.

Both Carfax and the state of Florida offer a free VIN check.

www.carfax.com/odo.

https://services.flhsmv.gov/MVCheckWeb/