Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force

BUYER BEWARE: VIN CLONES, VIN SWAPS & ODOMETER FRAUD ARE STILL OUT THERE

That vehicle on social media or parked on a small dealership lot may look like a great deal—but appearances can be deceiving.

Investigators across Texas and the nation continue to encounter stolen vehicles disguised through VIN cloning and VIN swapping schemes. In many cases, buyers don't discover the problem until they attempt to title, register, or sell the vehicle.

Before you hand over your hard-earned money:

✅ Ask for the VIN before meeting the seller.
✅ Google the VIN and search the vehicle online. You may be surprised what you find.
✅ Review a vehicle history report through reputable providers and pay close attention to title history and mileage records.
✅ Run the VIN through NICB's free VINCheck service to determine whether the vehicle has been reported stolen or declared a salvage vehicle.
✅ Ask the seller to meet you at your local county tax office.
✅ Contact your local Auto Theft Task Force or law enforcement agency to inquire about VIN verification services.
✅ If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Remember: Most sellers are legitimate, but a little due diligence can save you from purchasing a stolen vehicle, a cloned vehicle, or one with a rolled-back odometer.

Crooks are getting more sophisticated. Don't make their job easier.

Trust, but verify. Check the VIN. Check the history. Protect your investment.

No VTR-68A Inspections Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

⚠️ Weather Notice ⚠️

Due to forecasted weather conditions, the Southeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force will not be conducting VTR-68A inspections.
We appreciate your understanding and encourage everyone to stay safe during the inclement weather.

🚨 STOP LEAVING GUNS IN YOUR VEHICLE

Criminals are actively targeting vehicles looking for one thing: fi****ms.

When a gun is stolen from a vehicle, it doesn’t just disappear, it often ends up in the hands of criminals, gang members, or violent offenders and can be used in robberies, assaults, or worse, homicides!

A locked vehicle is not a gun safe.

Every unattended firearm left in a vehicle is an opportunity for a thief. In many cases, it takes only seconds for a criminal to smash a window, grab a firearm, and be gone.

Protect yourself and your community:
🔹 Remove fi****ms from your vehicle whenever possible
🔹 Use a secured lockbox if temporary storage is necessary
🔹 Never leave fi****ms in plain view
🔹 Always lock your vehicle
🔹 Report stolen fi****ms immediately

The next stolen gun could be used in the next violent crime. Don’t make it easy for criminals.

Take it with you. Lock it up.

🚨Vehicle fraud is on the rise and can affect anyone buying, selling, or financing a vehicle. Criminals may alter VINs, roll back odometers, use stolen identities, create fake titles, or sell stolen vehicles disguised as legitimate purchases.

Before buying a vehicle, always verify the VIN, inspect the title, review vehicle history records, and be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.

Today we remember the heroes who never made it home.
Their sacrifice gave us the freedoms we enjoy every day.

Gone, but never forgotten. 🇺🇸