Police are warning of a growing scam targeting used car buyers.
It's called Curbstoning, and the next time you buy a used car, there are steps you need to take to make sure you don't become a victim.
A local man who bought a car on Craigslist thought he got a great deal.
But when he took it into the Department of Licensing to get his title, inspectors knew right away that this was a chop job.
When they ran the VIN number, which came back as a different year than the license plate, officers knew the car had been Curbstoned.
It's a term that a lot of us haven't heard. But the State Patrol says it's becoming big business here in Washinghton.
And that's why the Patrol is teaming up with the Seattle Police Department and the DOL.
They're going after unlicensed dealers to get Curbstoned cars off the road.
The cars in question are assmebled from parts obtained from insurance company salvage yards. They re-assembled, and then sold to unsuspecting buyers.
Here are some tips to avoid Curbstoning:
1) Buy from a licensed dealer.
2) If you buy one online, or thru a want ad, don't fall for the deal that's too good to be true. If it's a $10,000 car, and they're selling it for $5,000, that should be a red flag.
3) If the seller doesn't have the car's title, that should a be a red flag.
4) Ttake the car to a mechanic and get the VIN numbers checked in three places: On the door, on the dash, and near the firewall under the hood. If any of those numbers are missing or don't match, it's probably a chop job.