Is this car stealing scam real
Discussion
I can't find anything about this and if it has been posted elsewhere then mods, please delete.
It came to me from one of my buddies in the insurance world.
It is being reported that cars are being stolen following a 'scratch' to the paintwork. The scenario is as follows:
"A Thief/accomplice scratches a target car and leaves a note.
The Note apologies for the damage and promises to send a dent/scratch remover out.
They turn up & clone the owners keys by using the diagnostic USB, they pretend the lap top is plugged into the car diagnostics to interrogate the Engine Management Unit for the paint code.
Then they say they don't carry the paint, and will need to return at later time. Which they don’t.
They now have the details to create a copy key, and can return to steal the vehicle at any time.
This MO appears to have been used twice in Surrey recently, and it would be interesting to discover if this is a local initiative, or countrywide."
I'm not even sure if this is possible or just a scaremongering message but it would be interesting to know if this is happening and for us all to be aware if it is.
If it's a load of crap, feel free to flame me!!!
It came to me from one of my buddies in the insurance world.
It is being reported that cars are being stolen following a 'scratch' to the paintwork. The scenario is as follows:
"A Thief/accomplice scratches a target car and leaves a note.
The Note apologies for the damage and promises to send a dent/scratch remover out.
They turn up & clone the owners keys by using the diagnostic USB, they pretend the lap top is plugged into the car diagnostics to interrogate the Engine Management Unit for the paint code.
Then they say they don't carry the paint, and will need to return at later time. Which they don’t.
They now have the details to create a copy key, and can return to steal the vehicle at any time.
This MO appears to have been used twice in Surrey recently, and it would be interesting to discover if this is a local initiative, or countrywide."
I'm not even sure if this is possible or just a scaremongering message but it would be interesting to know if this is happening and for us all to be aware if it is.
If it's a load of crap, feel free to flame me!!!
I think it would, theoretically, be possible. Though I would expect it to be very targeted because you're not going to be able to do it to all cars, all the time - if it is at all possible, I would imagine the software you're using to be capable only of working with a handful of cars.
Though I have to say that if you let someone unknown arrive with no word from your insurers or anyone you had met, and let them plug their laptop into your car and then go away having done nothing more, you need your head read. No matter what it says on the side of their van.
Though I have to say that if you let someone unknown arrive with no word from your insurers or anyone you had met, and let them plug their laptop into your car and then go away having done nothing more, you need your head read. No matter what it says on the side of their van.
I'd say it's a myth/spam.....
It's my experience that the CL, alarm and immobilizer are always controlled by a separate unit, not part of the ECU (although it does "talk" to the ECU), no amount of laptopery will give you access to that unit.
And finally if your stupid enough to allow someone to connect a laptop to your vehicle, for something like a paint scratch, then really you deserve all you get.
lyonspride said:
And finally if your stupid enough to allow someone to connect a laptop to your vehicle, for something like a paint scratch, then really you deserve all you get.
That's absurd, you really think that normal joe-public would have any idea if this was a genuine request or not. supertouring said:
lyonspride said:
And finally if your stupid enough to allow someone to connect a laptop to your vehicle, for something like a paint scratch, then really you deserve all you get.
That's absurd, you really think that normal joe-public would have any idea if this was a genuine request or not. lyonspride said:
If not, they shouldn't be driving a car in the first place....??
I think hundreds if not thousands would fall for it. Genuinely I do. Those who know nothing about cars, the elderly, people who are just too impressed with the offer of repair they leave them to it and pop inside to look after the kids.
'Ah, these modern cars are so clever....just pop this in there and I get the exact paint code. Clever eh? Saves us getting it wrong you see.....'
No problems at all. Ever seen some of the scams that work? This is one of the more believable ones.
Garlick said:
lyonspride said:
If not, they shouldn't be driving a car in the first place....??
I think hundreds if not thousands would fall for it. Genuinely I do. Those who know nothing about cars, the elderly, people who are just too impressed with the offer of repair they leave them to it and pop inside to look after the kids.
'Ah, these modern cars are so clever....just pop this in there and I get the exact paint code. Clever eh? Saves us getting it wrong you see.....'
No problems at all. Ever seen some of the scams that work? This is one of the more believable ones.
Waugh-terfall said:
ikarl said:
sounds plausible though I haven't heard of it... I have a few friends in the industry, I'll send them an emial and see if they know about it
Are they car thieves?They haven't heard anything about this yet but will try and find out about it to see if it is genuine
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