CARFAX Canada has launched VIN Fraud Check, a tool to alert vehicle dealers when a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) may be linked to fraudulent activity or reported as stolen in North America. The feature is now available at no added cost through the CARFAX Canada dealer portal.
The launch follows an industry roundtable hosted by the Province of Ontario, where participants discussed the increasing incidence of auto-related fraud and the need for new tools and data-driven approaches to address it.
CARFAX Canada estimates that approximately 127,000 vehicles registered in Ontario may have been cloned and re-registered elsewhere in North America. The company says integrating VIN Fraud Check into its platform gives dealers an added resource for identifying and removing suspicious vehicles from the resale process.
Auto theft, including VIN cloning, has been linked to organized criminal activity across several regions in Canada. Law enforcement officials have noted that cloned VINs are used to disguise stolen vehicles, allowing them to be resold or exported under false identities.
VIN Fraud Check draws from CARFAX Canada’s North American vehicle data network, which aggregates billions of records from sources such as insurance companies, vehicle registries, and law enforcement agencies. The tool is part of the company’s broader offering, which includes vehicle history and valuation reports used by consumers, dealers, insurers, and lenders.
Headquartered in London, Ontario, CARFAX Canada, formerly CarProof, rebranded in 2018 after joining the U.S.-based CARFAX group, a subsidiary of S&P Global. The company operates as a key provider of vehicle history information, with a focus on transparency in the used vehicle market.
According to the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), tools like VIN Fraud Check contribute to broader efforts to reduce fraud and improve confidence in vehicle transactions. The company says it will continue to collaborate with stakeholders across government, law enforcement, and the automotive sector to develop tools that respond to emerging risks.
CARFAX Canada’s rollout of VIN Fraud Check reflects ongoing efforts to enhance data access and provide real-time support to dealers navigating the used vehicle landscape. The company maintains that strengthening fraud detection infrastructure is essential to improving safety and accountability in the marketplace.
