Cap HPI warns against threat of vehicle leasing fraud

Overseas crime groups are targeting leasing companies to fraudulently obtain high-performance motor vehicles.

The information has come from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) which has ascertained that high-end quality vehicles are being rented from car leasing companies using fraudulent identification.

Barry Shorto, head of industry relations at Cap hpi commented: “Once these vehicles have been leased, the criminals have no intention of bringing them back. Instead, they are shipped abroad where the index plates are changed and bodywork repainted.”

Leasing the vehicle affords the criminal group time to move the motor vehicle out of the UK undetected. A proportion of the cars end up in countries such Cyprus, Spain and Poland.

“The best action UK leasing companies can take to minimise risk of vehicle theft is to be ultra-diligent when checking customer authenticity and to look at all methods of verifying identification. The fitting of appropriate tracking devices in all vehicles will also minimise the risk of theft,” added Shorto.