Stephen Wade Honda
Driving the news: Three men are in jail after a quick-witted dealership employee spotted a fake VIN during what appeared to be a routine truck sale in St. George, Utah.
For context: The scam unraveled Monday when 61-year-old Marciano Madrano Penaloza of California allegedly tried to sell a dark blue 2023 Chevrolet Duramax to Stephen Wade dealership for $51,000.
An employee ran the VIN and got an invalid result, prompting a closer look that revealed the real number underneath.
Turns out the truck was stolen from California in January.
And the VIN alterations were so convincing that another dealership had already been fooled and cut a $44,000 check to Penaloza for a similar stolen truck.
Why it matters: VIN tampering has become so sophisticated, it’s crucial for dealerships to thoroughly verify the numbers even when stickers and paperwork look legitimate.
"It was difficult to determine the numbers had been altered," stated detectives.
What we're watching: All three suspects face six second-degree felony charges that include two counts of receiving a stolen vehicle and altering a vehicle identification number, one count of theft by deception and one count of pattern of unlawful activity.
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