Latest news with #VIN
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Quick-thinking Utah car dealer foils $95K auto theft scheme after spotting truck had a ‘suspicious' VIN
A trio of alleged car thieves very nearly walked away with $95,000 recently. However, their scheme was thwarted by an observant car dealer at the Stephen Wade Auto Center in St. George, Utah. That employee's quick thinking enabled police to set up a sting, arrest three men and save the dealership from losing thousands paying for a stolen vehicle. And, it was all thanks to his careful checking of the vehicle identification number (VIN). I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) 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 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 Here's how the scam was foiled, along with how car owners can protect their own VINs — or make sure they don't end up with a stolen car if they are buying a vehicle. The sequence of events that resulted in the arrest began when a man identifying himself as Marciano Madrano Penaloza went into the Stephen Wade dealership to sell a 2023 Chevrolet pickup truck, reported St. George News. The dealership and Penaloza agreed on a price and Penaloza left with plans to return the next day to pick up a check for $51,000. While the sale was pending, though, a dealership employee checked the VIN and found that it came back as 'invalid.' This discovery launched an investigation of the vehicle, with employees checking the side door sticker, engine compartment and near the windshield where the VIN was found. They found something surprising then — the VIN had been altered, though the change was hard to detect. When the real VIN was located, it revealed that the truck had been stolen. The dealership called law enforcement, who sprang into action to set up a sting after discovering Penaloza was coming back the next day to pick up the check. When Penaloza returned with two others, all three men were arrested. According to St. George News, a search of their car by detectives uncovered a $44,000 check from a different dealer to whom Penaloza sold another truck. Police said that the VIN on that vehicle had also been altered and, when the real one was checked, that truck had also been reported stolen. If the altered VIN hadn't been found, the scammers would have walked away with a reported $95,000. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how A VIN is a unique identifying number found within every vehicle. They essentially serve as the car's fingerprint, with each 17-digit number permanently linked to a specific vehicle. VINs are recorded in databases, including the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), which stores a consolidated list of car title information compiled from Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in participating states. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) also maintains a VIN database, which is the one the dealer checked in this particular case. If a car is stolen, in an accident or sold, all these details become part of the records attached to the VIN — sort of like how people's borrowing behavior is added to their credit record. That's why thieves alter the VIN — to try to avoid a buyer finding the true history of a car. In this case, once the dealership found the unaltered vehicle ID number, they were able to use it to find out the truth about the truck and stop the scam in its tracks. If you're a car owner, you need to protect your VIN. Otherwise, someone could steal it and use it in a scam like this one, attaching your legit VIN to a stolen car so when dealers search their database, everything comes up clear. Cybercriminals can also sometimes hack a vehicle from thousands of miles away by using the VIN and the owner's email to access a vehicle's app and take over. Obviously, you don't want that to happen. The good news, you can help keep your car's ID safe by covering the VIN with tape so people can't look in the window of the car and see the number. Car owners should also make sure to avoid providing their VIN to anyone they don't know and trust, so it won't fall into the wrong hands. As for car buyers, the key is to find a vehicle without a history of problems, like being reported stolen. Buyers should look carefully at the VIN in any vehicle they're considering to make sure it's not altered. You can check if fonts match up or if there are any scratches or markings near where the VIN is posted that could suggest tampering. Once you have the (hopefully correct) VIN, you can run it through many online services that search VIN databases, including CARFAX, which will perform a VIN decoder to show buyers the car's history. Of course, even the dealer was nearly tricked here, so you'll need to be careful when checking a vehicle's VIN to make sure you aren't duped. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk 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 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Quick-thinking Utah car dealer foils $95K auto theft scheme after spotting truck had a ‘suspicious' VIN
A trio of alleged car thieves very nearly walked away with $95,000 recently. However, their scheme was thwarted by an observant car dealer at the Stephen Wade Auto Center in St. George, Utah. That employee's quick thinking enabled police to set up a sting, arrest three men and save the dealership from losing thousands paying for a stolen vehicle. And, it was all thanks to his careful checking of the vehicle identification number (VIN). I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) 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 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 Here's how the scam was foiled, along with how car owners can protect their own VINs — or make sure they don't end up with a stolen car if they are buying a vehicle. The sequence of events that resulted in the arrest began when a man identifying himself as Marciano Madrano Penaloza went into the Stephen Wade dealership to sell a 2023 Chevrolet pickup truck, reported St. George News. The dealership and Penaloza agreed on a price and Penaloza left with plans to return the next day to pick up a check for $51,000. While the sale was pending, though, a dealership employee checked the VIN and found that it came back as 'invalid.' This discovery launched an investigation of the vehicle, with employees checking the side door sticker, engine compartment and near the windshield where the VIN was found. They found something surprising then — the VIN had been altered, though the change was hard to detect. When the real VIN was located, it revealed that the truck had been stolen. The dealership called law enforcement, who sprang into action to set up a sting after discovering Penaloza was coming back the next day to pick up the check. When Penaloza returned with two others, all three men were arrested. According to St. George News, a search of their car by detectives uncovered a $44,000 check from a different dealer to whom Penaloza sold another truck. Police said that the VIN on that vehicle had also been altered and, when the real one was checked, that truck had also been reported stolen. If the altered VIN hadn't been found, the scammers would have walked away with a reported $95,000. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how A VIN is a unique identifying number found within every vehicle. They essentially serve as the car's fingerprint, with each 17-digit number permanently linked to a specific vehicle. VINs are recorded in databases, including the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), which stores a consolidated list of car title information compiled from Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in participating states. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) also maintains a VIN database, which is the one the dealer checked in this particular case. If a car is stolen, in an accident or sold, all these details become part of the records attached to the VIN — sort of like how people's borrowing behavior is added to their credit record. That's why thieves alter the VIN — to try to avoid a buyer finding the true history of a car. In this case, once the dealership found the unaltered vehicle ID number, they were able to use it to find out the truth about the truck and stop the scam in its tracks. If you're a car owner, you need to protect your VIN. Otherwise, someone could steal it and use it in a scam like this one, attaching your legit VIN to a stolen car so when dealers search their database, everything comes up clear. Cybercriminals can also sometimes hack a vehicle from thousands of miles away by using the VIN and the owner's email to access a vehicle's app and take over. Obviously, you don't want that to happen. The good news, you can help keep your car's ID safe by covering the VIN with tape so people can't look in the window of the car and see the number. Car owners should also make sure to avoid providing their VIN to anyone they don't know and trust, so it won't fall into the wrong hands. As for car buyers, the key is to find a vehicle without a history of problems, like being reported stolen. Buyers should look carefully at the VIN in any vehicle they're considering to make sure it's not altered. You can check if fonts match up or if there are any scratches or markings near where the VIN is posted that could suggest tampering. Once you have the (hopefully correct) VIN, you can run it through many online services that search VIN databases, including CARFAX, which will perform a VIN decoder to show buyers the car's history. Of course, even the dealer was nearly tricked here, so you'll need to be careful when checking a vehicle's VIN to make sure you aren't duped. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk 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 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Metavista3D Enters into Memorandum of Understanding with VIN International to Develop 3D Camera Prototype for Vehicles
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 6, 2025) - Metavista3D Inc. (TSXV: DDD) (FSE: E3T) ("Metavista3D" or the "Company"), announces that, further to its press release of December 6, 2024, the Company has entered into a memorandum of understanding (the "MOU") with VIN International FZCO ("VIN") to co-develop an automotive safety prototype and demonstration unit featuring 3D spatial camera systems. VIN is a member of the VIN Group, with subsidiaries in Dubai, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. VIN is a leading provider of advanced safety and security technologies for luxury and heavy-duty vehicles. Its product portfolio includes road safety devices such as construction site safety solutions, fatigue monitoring systems, vehicle cameras, and collision avoidance systems. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, this collaboration focuses on integrating 3D spatial camera systems to support advancements in vehicle safety and operational efficiency, which currently rely on 2D technology. The collaboration is expected to expand VIN Technology Systems' product portfolio with tools designed to detect and address safety risks in real-time. The MOU reflects a mutual interest in exploring potential long-term partnership opportunities which brings together the technical capabilities of both companies to address evolving safety requirements in the Middle East market. "Our collaboration with VIN Technology Systems reflects a shared focus on bringing technological solutions to the automotive, truck, and heavy vehicle sectors," said Jeff Carlson, CEO of Metavista3D. "By combining our expertise in glasses-free 3D visualization with VIN Technology Systems' extensive experience in vehicle safety, we aim to develop practical solutions that improve spatial awareness and enhance overall safety on the road." About VIN Technology Systems VIN Technology Systems is a leader in providing breakthrough safety and security devices designed for luxury and heavy-duty vehicles. For more information, visit About Metavista3D Metavista3D Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, psHolix AG, is engaged in the development of AI-driven, pseudo-holographic display technologies targeting applications in spatial content and immersive visualization. The Company holds a portfolio of over 20 patents and is positioning its technology to address emerging market opportunities in glasses-free 3D interfaces. For more information, visit Metavista3D's shares are publicly traded and listed in Canada on the TSX-Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol DDD, and on the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt and others under the ticker symbol E3T. Metavista3D's ISIN number is CA59142H1073 and German WKN number is A3EG0D. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeff CarlsonCEO and DirectorE: jeff@ (647) 697-9199 or (702) 518-3220 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains forward-looking statements including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's business, assets or investments, as well other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, investor interest in the business and prospects of the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Corvette theft at GM plant leads to recovery of 8 cars worth $1.2 million
Corvette theft at GM plant leads to recovery of 8 cars worth $1.2 million Show Caption Hide Caption GM dealer Rick Hendrick wins auction with $3.7M bid for VIN 001 Corvette ZR1 GM dealer Rick Hendrick won a live auction with a record-tying $3.7-million bid for VIN 001 Corvette ZR1. Eight Corvettes, valued at $1.2 million, were stolen from a General Motors plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Deantae Walker, 21, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including receiving stolen property and engaging in organized crime. A Michigan man is in custody after eight Corvettes valued at more than $1 million were stolen Saturday from the General Motors plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where the sports cars are built. Court records show that Deantae Walker, 21, of Westland faces several charges, including receiving stolen property of $10,000 or more, criminal mischief, evading police and resisting arrest. Bowling Green Police Department Public Information Officer Ronnie Ward said Wednesday that Walker is also being charged with engaging in organized crime after authorities discovered that all eight vehicles, valued at $1.2 million, left the plant at the same time. Records show police in Bowling Green were notified of the incident when the Warren County, Kentucky Sheriff's Office contacted them, saying they located what they believed to be a stolen Corvette. A witness said she saw a man driving a Corvette with a window sticker still attached at an apartment complex, and the manager of the GM plant confirmed the vehicle, along with seven others, had been stolen. As police continued to investigate, several of the other vehicles were located within 2 miles of the surrounding area. General Motors sports cars: Iconic Corvette faces changes ahead, but enthusiasts are confident Later, a car transport driver notified police of a suspicious transaction. The driver was scheduled to transport one 2017 Corvette from Bowling Green to Michigan, but when he arrived, he was greeted by Walker and one other individual with three of the stolen vehicles. The driver said he was rushed by the pair to load the vehicles, but contacted police because he thought something was wrong. Walker was arrested at the scene following a "brief struggle," with assistance from bystanders. The other person drove away in a Jeep with Ohio tags. Police were still looking for that person. Records show that as Walker was later being booked into the Warren County Regional Jail, he said he would have "been paid big" had he been able to get the cars to Michigan. GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Senior Communications Manager Rachel Bagshaw said all the vehicles have been recovered and the company is working with affected car dealers and customers. "We work with law enforcement agencies to identify emerging theft methods that affect our products and make updates as needed to defend against them," Bagshaw said. "As a result of this cooperation, we are aware of theft methods used at our facilities and employ appropriate countermeasures, the details of which cannot be shared for security reasons." Reach Marina Johnson at
