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A man from Cardiff has lost £13,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated car cloning scam. Sevak Maljian, 35, purchased a Kia EV6 believing he was making a legitimate transaction. Unknown to him, the vehicle was stolen, and fraudsters had created counterfeit identity documents, including a fake DVLA V5C logbook that perfectly matched the details of another car. “All the details matched… there was no reason to question,” Maljian explained, reflecting on the trusted appearance of the fraudulent documents.
The purchase seemed legitimate at every step. Maljian, a physiotherapist and NHS project support officer, first saw the three-year-old car advertised on Facebook. After negotiating an attractive cash price with the seller, he traveled to London and met outside Putney station to inspect the vehicle. He verified the details against what he understood to be best practice, performing checks on the MOT, mileage, and using Total Car Check to confirm no finance issues or prior accidents. The seller also provided a logbook featuring genuine-appearing watermarks and matching identification numbers, which gave Maljian confidence in the transaction. “I did all the checks that were recommended by the DVLA,” he said.
Despite following standard precautions, the deception became clear only after the purchase. Days later, when Maljian took the car to a local Kia dealership to address a faulty key fob button, the staff discovered the key was counterfeit. Further examination revealed a mismatch between the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) stamped on the chassis and those displayed on the windscreen and door. Police were subsequently informed that the car had been reported stolen in Kent and promptly seized it. Maljian, who had taken out a personal loan to fund the purchase, is now burdened by monthly repayments for a car he does not legally own. “I was really in shock. I’m a victim. I lost my money… I’m paying five years for something I don’t own,” he said, expressing his frustration at how multiple layers of vehicle security failed to prevent the fraud.
Authorities, including the Report Fraud service and City of London Police, are investigating the case. A spokesperson for Kia expressed sympathy for Maljian’s situation and encouraged ongoing cooperation with authorities. Additionally, the DVLA emphasized the importance of following their guidance to reduce the risk of fraud, advising buyers to verify vehicle identification numbers and confirm the seller’s identity. Experts from the RAC highlighted the growing prevalence of car cloning scams and advised future buyers to verify seller details thoroughly, including checking every VIN on the vehicle and purchasing through reputable dealers where possible. Simon Williams from the RAC called Maljian’s experience “truly terrible,” noting the evolving sophistication of criminals who are increasingly adept at circumventing security systems
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