Fraud Alert: Out-of-State Impersonation Attempt Reported by Member

NHADA recently received a report from a member dealer regarding a suspected fraud attempt involving an individual impersonating a legitimate business in order to purchase vehicles.

According to the member, the individual claimed to represent a business located in Ohio and sought to establish purchasing credentials with the dealership and with Ford. The person provided what appeared to be legitimate documentation, including a driver’s license. When the dealership contacted the Ohio DMV, the license number itself was confirmed as valid.

However, the dealership noticed that the photo on the license did not appear to match the owner pictured on the business’s website. After raising concerns and contacting the business directly, the dealership confirmed that the company had not attempted to purchase any vehicles. The dealership declined the transaction and the situation was determined to be fraudulent.

The member also noted that much of the information used by the suspect, including a company’s tax ID and revenue data, can often be easily located online, making it easier for bad actors to convincingly impersonate legitimate businesses.

What This Means for Members
Dealers should exercise caution when working with unfamiliar out-of-state buyers or businesses, particularly when transactions are being conducted remotely. Consider taking the following precautions:

• Verify business identity directly. Contact the business using publicly listed phone numbers rather than the contact information provided by the buyer.
• Review identification carefully. Even when license numbers verify as valid, the individual presenting them may not be the rightful owner.
• Confirm purchasing authority. Ensure the individual is actually authorized to act on behalf of the business they claim to represent.
• Trust your instincts. In this case, the dealer’s attention to detail prevented the release of vehicles.

If your dealership encounters similar suspicious activity, please notify NHADA so we can help alert other members.

Staying vigilant and sharing information about these incidents helps protect dealers across the state from increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts.