Vehicle cloning is a scam.
Picture: Berita Harian
Picture: Sinar Harian
Tips to Avoid Risk of Buying a Cloned Vehicle
- Check the history of the vehicle
- Send for details vehicle checking, you may send to PUSPAKOM Sdn Bhd
- Do not pay less than 80% of the market value. If it’s too good to be true, it may well be.
- Do not pay cash, use a traceable payment method. If the worst happened at least the person you paid may be found.
- Go to the actual shop and deal with legit salesman, check their address.
- Make sure you get a proper receipt for the purchase, detailing the vehicle, price and the seller details.
- Keep all of your communication with the salesman.
What is Clone Vehicle?
A cloned vehicle is defined as any motor vehicle used on the road that resembles a Malaysian-registered vehicle, using identical number plates taken from a similar legitimately-registered model.
More About Vehicle Cloning
Vehicle cloning is an illegal practice whereby criminals steal the identity of a legally registered vehicle and use it to hide the identity of a stolen or salvaged vehicle, which is often similar in model and appearance. There are cases whereby, the registration numbers have been replicated and used on other vehicles, fake registration number and fake road taxes which amounting to an identity theft.
Cloning is a very real problem that could not only leave you thousand of Ringgit out of pocket, but also might see you wrongly accused of a serious crime.
Syndicate Modus Operandi of Cloned Vehicle
The syndicate would modify the chassis numbers based on cars that been declared a ‘Total Loss’ and they would obtain the information on such vehicle from accomplices or through the Internet. Then the syndicate will obtain the original vehicle grants through their agents or internal individual as a fake vehicle registration document and could even alter the vehicle engine number or chassis number. After that, the syndicate would then sell the cloned vehicles to unsuspecting customers after the forgery was completed.
JPJ found cloned car syndicates used social media sites to lure people to buy the cars at RM10,000 to RM20,000 each.
“Investigations on bank transactions found the amounts of most payments were below RM10,000 while the balance was paid when the buyer met the salesman.
“Some salesmen do not turn up to hand over the car ownership grants to the buyer as promised, and were also uncontactable,” he said.
Be Aware
Please be warned that those using fake registration numbers and road taxes could be charged in court under the JPJ Act 1987. “After being issued with summonses, they will be charged in court, warrants of arrest will be issued against them if they fail to turn up in court and their names will be blacklisted,” mentioned by one of Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) officer pertaining to cloned vehicle. JPJ would also apply to the court to dispose off the seized cloned vehicles.
“There are many risks in using a cloned car. The buyer will also not be able to make an insurance claim if there is an accident.
Any information on cloned vehicle, public to call the KL CID special ops room at 03-21460670, the KL police hotline at 03-21159999 or the nearest police station.
