Consumers are getting tricked out of their money by a proliferation of online scamming websites that make misleading or downright false advertisements claiming to provide services to help locate the owner of a vehicle by supposedly processing a reverse license plate number look-up. Luckily, most of those sites share common traits and warning signs that consumers can keep an eye out for before ever giving out personal information or paying money out to a scammer.
Warning Sign #1: The Site Does Not Have Any Contact Information
A legitimate business usually makes it easy for customers to get in touch. If you come across a site that has no contact details, be very wary because it's an indication that they don't consider customer satisfaction much of a priority and that tells you it may not be a real business. Look for businesses that put some form of informative contact information online, like a mailing address or a phone number. Similarly, if a website does provide a phone number, that's a good indication that it is not a scam. Call it to make sure a real person answers.
Warning Sign #2: Promises of Instant Results
If you have a license plate number and you want to verify or find the car's owner, chances are good that you are not interested in anything other than current, up-to-date records. That means the record should be culled from records maintained by the state's DMV. Registration records are protected by privacy laws and are therefore not available to the public for instant searches. Individuals can order a look-up and the DMV will check to make sure it is for a permissible purpose. It typically takes at least a business day. If you come across a site promising instant results, it's likely that it is making false claims and is not a trustworthy source.
Warning Sign #3: No Credentials
Driver information is protected by law and is not publicly available to just anyone with internet access and a license plate number. If you have a DPPA-compliant reason for requesting vehicle ownership information, then you want to look for a licensed and insured investigative firm. State licensed private investigators are subject to regulation and oversight and are therefore, much less likely to get away with scamming consumers. Select investigators have access to state DMV records and can often provide accurate results within a day.
These warning signs are simple ways to protect yourself from giving out personal information and money to scammers.
Warning Sign #1: The Site Does Not Have Any Contact Information
A legitimate business usually makes it easy for customers to get in touch. If you come across a site that has no contact details, be very wary because it's an indication that they don't consider customer satisfaction much of a priority and that tells you it may not be a real business. Look for businesses that put some form of informative contact information online, like a mailing address or a phone number. Similarly, if a website does provide a phone number, that's a good indication that it is not a scam. Call it to make sure a real person answers.
Warning Sign #2: Promises of Instant Results
If you have a license plate number and you want to verify or find the car's owner, chances are good that you are not interested in anything other than current, up-to-date records. That means the record should be culled from records maintained by the state's DMV. Registration records are protected by privacy laws and are therefore not available to the public for instant searches. Individuals can order a look-up and the DMV will check to make sure it is for a permissible purpose. It typically takes at least a business day. If you come across a site promising instant results, it's likely that it is making false claims and is not a trustworthy source.
Warning Sign #3: No Credentials
Driver information is protected by law and is not publicly available to just anyone with internet access and a license plate number. If you have a DPPA-compliant reason for requesting vehicle ownership information, then you want to look for a licensed and insured investigative firm. State licensed private investigators are subject to regulation and oversight and are therefore, much less likely to get away with scamming consumers. Select investigators have access to state DMV records and can often provide accurate results within a day.
These warning signs are simple ways to protect yourself from giving out personal information and money to scammers.
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