Picture this: You need a new car, so you hunt around for an affordable option that meets your needs. You take out a loan to pay for the car, and then spend the next two years driving around, enjoying your new ride. Then, one day you get a knock at the door, and deputies tell you that the SUV sitting in your driveway isn’t even yours.
Instead, they inform you that it’s stolen property. And that car payment you’ve been making every month? It means nothing because the car you bought was never yours to own in the first place.
Sound like a nightmare? It’s what one Orange County, Florida, woman says happened to her recently.
Now she’s sharing her story with News 6 as she tries to figure out how to get back the money she’s lost over the years while also coping with suddenly being without a car.
Amber Wolnomiejski Had No Idea She Bought a Stolen Car
Wolnomiejski’s 2019 Nissan Rogue SUV was impounded by Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies after they traced the stolen vehicle to her house. According to News 6, Wolnomiejski bought her car from an Orlando-area dealership back in 2023, which is when she says she used carsforsale.com to check the VIN on the used vehicle.
While she tells the outlet that the numbers matched when she purchased the SUV from LC Motors 1 Inc, deputies alleged that there were actually three VINs attached to the car.
The Dealership Claims They Purchased the Car From an Auction
When contacted about the issue, News 6 says the dealership bought the car wholesale from an auction company called Manheim. However, when the outlet reached out to Manheim to see how the three VINs were missed by the auction house, the outlet received a statement in response to their query.
“Manheim is an industry-leading nationwide wholesale used vehicle services company that facilitates millions of sales each year between registered commercial and dealer buyers and sellers,” the statement read. “We are not the owner of the vehicles sold at auction and are not a consumer-facing business. In a rare circumstance like this, we rely on our local law enforcement partners to investigate and would direct you to the department listed on the report you shared.”
“You would think that somebody who sells cars, buys and sells cars for a living, would notice something as glaring as three VINs on one vehicle,” Wolnomiejski later said in response to the whole ordeal.
Wolnomiejski Had to Return the Car to the Original Owners
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office impounded the SUV before returning it to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the vehicle’s true owner. Meanwhile, Wolnomiejski says she’s left without a ride, even though she’s still making monthly payments on the more than $20,000 she borrowed to buy the SUV.
“I’m still paying $330 a month for a car that I don’t have and living well below my means right now,” she revealed.
As for what happens next, the sheriff’s office tells the outlet that Wolnomiejski is now considered a victim of fraud. As such, she is suing LC Motors 1 Inc.
Wolnomiejski Thought She Did Everything Right
According to the Way to Legal blog, there are plenty of different ways that scammers try to take advantage of used car shoppers. But when it comes to issues with fraudulent VINs, there are a few extra steps you can take to protect yourself.
First, the website suggests confirming that the VIN on the door frame, dashboard, and any other labels all match. Second, verify that there’s no sign of tampering with any of the areas where the VIN is located, like mismatched fonts, scratched surfaces, or even loose rivets.
Lastly, the website suggests contacting your state’s motor vehicle agency to review the title and ensure there are no outstanding issues that could affect your ownership of the vehicle.