Latest news with #GMCDenalis
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Texas police recover 4 stolen trucks linked to VIN cloning ring — what crimes like these mean for your wallet
Police in Hays County, Texas recently recovered four stolen GMC Denali trucks traced back to Houston valued at more than $220,000. On each of the trucks, the vehicle identification number (VIN) had been 'cloned' to dupe unsuspecting buyers. The vehicles were located after an investigation by the Hays County Sheriff's Auto Theft Unit and other law enforcement agencies — thanks to tips from the Hays County Tax Assessor's office about suspicious vehicle titles, according to Click2Houston. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'The GMC Denalis were sold by suspects on Facebook Marketplace for a price significantly below market value,' the Hays County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. 'All victims were provided fictitious titles for the cloned vehicles.' VIN cloning occurs when auto thieves replace the VIN of a stolen car with the VIN of a legally registered car, often of the same make and model, according to Chron. Since the VIN belongs to a vehicle that hasn't been reported as stolen, the vehicle can be passed off as 'clean' and sold to an unsuspecting buyer. Here's how to avoid becoming the next victim. In 2024, more than 850,000 vehicles were stolen in the U.S., costing car owners around $8 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Vehicle theft can lead to significant financial losses, including the cost of replacing a car and a higher insurance rate over the long term. But it's not just car owners who pay the price. Buyers of used vehicles are also at risk. For example, if authorities discover you've bought a cloned car, your car can be seized and you won't be reimbursed, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. So it pays to exercise extra caution when buying a used vehicle from a private seller. Red flags can include vehicles being sold on social media, vehicles with out-of-state titles and prices significantly below market value. For example, the GMC Denali trucks were sold significantly below market value on Facebook Marketplace. In some states, you can have a VIN verification inspection performed by the DMV before you buy a car. If the seller refuses, that's a red flag. Always get a vehicle history report and perform a title search through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System — and be sure to get the seller's I.D. To help prevent your car from being stolen, the NHTSA recommends that owners 'use common sense.' For example, don't leave your vehicle running unattended, park in well-lit areas if possible and lock all windows and doors when you park. You may want to consider an anti-theft system such as an immobilizer or vehicle recovery system, too. If your car is stolen, contact the police immediately. Once you have the police report, you'll need to contact your insurance company within 24 hours of the time it was stolen. If you find your vehicle before the police do, contact the police and your insurance company immediately. Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis Comprehensive coverage is the only type of vehicle coverage that will allow you to make claims for theft. If your car isn't recovered or is totaled after it's stolen, comprehensive coverage may pay out the actual cash value of the car. While vehicle insurance doesn't cover personal items that were in the car when it was stolen, your homeowner's policy likely will. The actual cash value of the car is what your car was worth when it was stolen after accounting for depreciation and the condition of your car. It will likely be below the replacement value of the car, and it may even be lower than your outstanding loan or lease balance. If your car is relatively new, you may want to consider new car replacement coverage, which will pay out enough for you to replace your car with the same make and model. You might also want to consider getting gap insurance, which will pay off what you still owe on your loan or lease if the initial payout isn't enough to cover this. Your insurance premiums are likely to go up after a theft. But whether they do, and by how much, depends on your specific policy. And, even if your car is recovered, its value may drop. This decision will be up to the insurance company, which will determine the amount of depreciation to assign to the car and whether to place a salvage title on it. A salvage title is assigned when the insurance company deems the cost of repairing the car to be greater than the value of the car. This can happen if the car has been in an accident, vandalized or stripped of parts. You can choose to buy back your car with a salvage title, but it will be difficult to sell or finance — and will likely lose 20% to 40% of its value, according to Kelley Blue Book. Car theft isn't just inconvenient, it can be costly. But taking precautions as a buyer and making sure you have the right insurance can help. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hays Sheriff, Texas law enforcement agencies investigate ‘cloned' GMC trucks
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Hays County Sheriff's Office issued a press release Thursday to announce that they had recovered four stolen trucks that had their vehicle identification numbers (VIN) cloned. 'VIN-cloned vehicles appear to be legitimate due to the VIN returning to a vehicle that is not reported as stolen,' wrote HCSO Deputy Bryant Cuadros in the release. 'The GMC Denalis were reported stolen through the Dallas Police Department, the Houston Police Department and a law enforcement agency in Connecticut.' Those trucks were sold on Facebook Marketplace for 'significantly below market value.' In total, the four trucks were worth $220,000, according to HCSO. Cuadros said in the release that HCSO will investigate the thefts further, and asked for anyone with information to contact the agency at 512-393-7800. The public can also submit tips anonymously through Hays County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-324-8477. Private seller vehicle purchases carry risks, and HCSO recommends that buyers should be cautious of seemingly good deals on social media websites. It also warned about cash offers for below market value and vehicles with out of state titles. The HCSO Auto Theft Unit offers free appointments to inspect a vehicle's VIN, which can be made over the phone at 512-393-7814. Also, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles offers a title check tool. HCSO also recommends searching online for the VIN to see if it belongs to a dealership, and checking that a car's 'infotainment center' has GPS activated at the time of purchase. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
