FRAUD ALERT: Identity Theft Attempt During Vehicle Purchase

NHADA has been notified by a member of a recent identity theft attempt involving the purchase of a vehicle at a New Hampshire dealership.

On June 8, an individual contacted a dealership regarding an Audi Q3 and completed much of the transaction remotely. The individual submitted a credit application and supporting identification documents, including a driver's license.

When the dealership submitted the application to a lender, the lender immediately recognized the information as belonging to an existing customer and alerted the dealership that the applicant was not the individual identified on the credit application. The transaction was stopped before delivery.

The ID (above) that was involved in the recent fraud attempt at the dealership.

This incident serves as an important reminder that identity theft and synthetic identity fraud continue to target dealerships, particularly when deals are conducted remotely.

• Verify customer identity before finalizing financing or delivery.
• Be cautious of transactions conducted primarily by phone, text, or email.
• Carefully review identification documents for signs of alteration or inconsistency.
• Pay close attention to lender fraud alerts and identity verification requests.
• Consider additional verification steps when a customer is unwilling or unable to appear in person.

If your dealership encounters a similar situation, please notify NHADA so we can continue to share fraud trends and help protect dealers across the state.

Stay vigilant and thank you to the member dealership that shared this information.