By Shawn Henry 
A Garner woman is facing significant financial losses after law enforcement determined the vehicle she purchased through CarMax had been stolen years earlier and was part of a large, multistate theft investigation.
According to search warrants released by the Raleigh Police Department, the case is connected to an ongoing investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, which is examining up to 200 stolen vehicles across several jurisdictions. One of those vehicles was sold locally in Wake County.
Police say the woman purchased a 2019 Infiniti Q50 Luxe from CarMax. At the time of sale, the vehicle was associated with a fraudulent Vehicle Identification Number, which prevented the theft from being detected during the initial transaction. Raleigh police later confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen approximately five years earlier.
The situation came to light after a Polk County law enforcement officer contacted Raleigh police to share information about a large-scale vehicle theft ring. Investigators advised that one of the vehicles connected to the operation had been sold by CarMax using a cloned VIN, a tactic that allows stolen vehicles to appear legitimate during routine checks.
Consumer safety experts say cases involving VIN cloning can be difficult for buyers to detect. Vehicle history reports may not flag a stolen vehicle if the theft is linked to the original VIN rather than the fraudulent one displayed on the car. Experts emphasize the importance of reviewing vehicle history reports carefully and verifying that details such as make, model, mileage, and color all align with the vehicle being purchased.
CarMax stated that it provides a free vehicle history report through AutoCheck for every vehicle it sells. The company said the report for the Infiniti did not indicate the vehicle was stolen at the time of sale due to the fraudulent VIN. CarMax also said it is not the subject of the Polk County investigation and that it plans to contact the affected customer to gather more information and offer assistance.
Authorities in Polk County confirmed the investigation remains active but declined to release further details. As the case continues, it highlights the growing challenges posed by sophisticated vehicle theft operations and the potential financial risks to unsuspecting buyers, even when purchasing vehicles from established dealerships.
Source
Eve