Fraudsters prey on Ukrainian drivers: how a new scheme works

A fraudulent scheme has been exposed in Ukraine: criminals use the phone number left under the windshield of a car, along with license plates and VIN code to access the owner's personal data through open databases. To protect yourself, you should not leave your phone number under the windshield and not provide unnecessary information about the car in public access.

A law enforcement officer told this to one of the automotive resources. Despite the widespread practice of leaving your license plates to resolve parking disputes, this can turn into serious problems for car owners.

How the fraud scheme works

Experts explain that the combination of a contact phone number, license plates, and the car's VIN code allows attackers to access the owner's personal data through open databases. This data can be used to organize fraudulent schemes. The most common of them are:

• telephone fraud – criminals can call car owners, posing as law enforcement officers or insurance agents. They accuse the driver of a fictitious offense and demand to “settle the matter” by paying a fine or monetary compensation;
• theft of wheels or license plates – after stealing property, criminals leave a note with a phone number, offering to return the stolen property for a ransom. This is a fairly common scheme, which is gaining momentum in large cities;
• theft of a car – Having access to the VIN code and other information about the vehicle, fraudsters can organize the theft of the car or try to re-register it.

How to protect yourself

A law enforcement officer warned that the best way to avoid such fraudulent situations is not to leave any personal information in a visible place in the car. If you need to leave contact details to communicate with other drivers, it is better to use anonymous communication methods, such as special applications or services.

It is also recommended to regularly check the car for damage or possible signs of tampering, especially in areas with a large concentration of vehicles. In the event of theft of license plates or wheels, you should immediately contact the police and record the incident.