New Scam Targets People Who Need Help Registering Their Car

Another summer, and another new scam targeting Colorado residents. This time, it's to trick people into signing over ownership of their car.

The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles reports that people without standard identification are the ones being targeted in the latest scam, usually through word of mouth or other means of online communication.

Scammers offer to assist people with immigration challenges, in particular, with getting their vehicle titled or registered. They act like some kind of agency, asking the potential victim to temporarily give them power of attorney, or asking to be added to a vehicle's title, so they can help them get the car registered.

Once they have legal control over it, the scammer can then sell, seize, tow or basically do whatever they want with the car.

READ MORE: How To Spot Scammer QR Codes on Parking Meters or Lots

The DMV doesn't have any exact figures for how many times this has happened yet, but they do say it's become a recurring theme in complaints from Colorado residents who have had it happen to them.

The DMV also says there is absolutely no good reason for you to ever add someone else to your title or grant them power of attorney, for the purposes of simply registering your vehicle. Anyone can legally get a driver license in the state of Colorado, no matter if they are a legal citizen or not.

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Additionally, the process of registering a vehicle is relatively easy if you have all your paperwork in order. If you surrender that documentation to someone you don't know, you essentially just gave away your car.

Denver7 reports that if you purchase a car in a private sale, make sure you check the VIN before you complete the sale, and visit a local DMV office to register it ASAP.

You can also check the DMV's vehicle scam alert site by clicking here.