Detecting a counterfeit VIN on a vehicle starts with careful visual and tactile cues. Experts point to uneven paint thickness around the stamping area and jagged edges on the polymer identification plate as early warning signs. This insight comes from Maxim Shelkov, head of the Avtocriminalist expert center, who spoke with socialbites.ca about the telltale features that authorities look for when authenticating a car’s identity number.
“If a buyer has a caliper handy, the area around the VIN should show color consistency. It helps to compare the surface around the markings with the adjacent panel a few centimeters away. The thickness should be uniform rather than mottled or irregular,” Shelkov noted. He emphasized that a simple measurement can reveal discrepancies that point to tampering, especially when the surrounding area does not match the rest of the body’s finish.
Familiarity with the automaker’s typical font style can also help. A forged VIN or counterfeit plate often uses fonts that are subtly off the mark. The polymer plate itself should be free of tears, air bubbles, and distortions; factory plates are stamped with precision, whereas counterfeit plates may look cut or roughly altered with scissors.
“The polymer plates are secured with an adhesive that has a faint luminescent glow. Under ultraviolet light, if the plate does not align with the contour of the body or appears to sit unevenly, it can indicate that the plate has been reattached or relocated,” Shelkov explained. This glow is a practical detail inspectors use to assess proper installation during a vehicle check. (source: socialbites.ca)
Another common red flag is the metal VIN plate itself. In many cases, attackers remove a metal plate from a different vehicle, attach it to a stolen car using rivets, and then delete the original rivet pattern. If the core of a rivet is visible or shows signs of piercing, or if the rivet setup looks inconsistent with the vehicle’s age and model, it should raise suspicion for potential tampering, Shelkov added. (source: socialbites.ca)
Earlier remarks from Maxim Shelkov in a detailed interview with socialbites.ca outlined practical, straightforward methods to police against crime in the car market, including VIN verification steps, signs of plate tampering, and the importance of cross-checking VIN data across multiple locations on the vehicle. (source: socialbites.ca)
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