Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website

I received a text from (385)444-4582 with a link to Vin Enterprise located at vinenterprise.com. The website, vinenterprise.com, is new and was registered 45 days ago. It seems a suspected scammer texted my number that was pulled from my Craigslist ad for a vehicle I am selling. He set up an appointment and asked me for a "registry report" (not a common term used in Canada). He forwarded me to vinenterprise.com. I did some research and suspected it was not legitimate.

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Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website

Vinenterprise Vehicle History Website

Vin enterprise at  vinenterprise.com Vehicle History Website

I assumed the best of the suspected scammer and got a much more trusted Carfax report instead. Suspected scammer did not accept this and asked me to use vinenterprise.com instead.

Vehicle sale location is in Vancouver BC and he used a (559) phone number ending in 2710.

Also suspiciously, when trying to confirm the meeting time to view the vehicle, he randomly responded that he is from California and did not have time to change his number (I never asked why his number is 559). I never suspected this to be a scam until he said this.

He is likely doing this to many auto sales that have phone numbers open and accidentally responded to the wrong text.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 18)

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September 5, 2021 at 2:52 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Metro Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

vinenterprise.com has been changed to vinsuperinfo.com. Same scam.

Delete

June 10, 2021 at 8:21 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Pocatello, Idaho, United States

We are selling our motorcycle and got the same type of text from a 913 area code in the Kansas City area. We live in southeastern Idaho and we had the same type of conversation with a Tyler. He was very aggressive with his texting and demanding we send a VE report. We had no idea what a VE report was and asked for him to explain. He said we could obtain it from www.vin-enterprises.com. And then he sent a bit.ly link to the report, which, of course, we did not touch. He stated he wanted an appointment for tomorrow and he was just 24 mintues away from us. We asked what city he lived in and he said Eagle. The only Eagle is over 200 miles away on the western side of the state a suburb of Boise. We told him to call us to discuss and he stated he was an EMT and worked 24 hour shifts and couldn't call and meanwhile please send the report! Thank goodness for my husbands intuition and the feeling of another scammer! Hope this helps.

Delete

June 13, 2021 at 3:56 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Madison, Wisconsin, United States

We just had the exact same thing happen today! Same story, same number, different name. I only wish we had researched and followed our intuition. P****d beyond belief!

Delete

June 10, 2021 at 5:28 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Metro Vancouver, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Just got a similar text from a Kansas City Area Code. I'm in Vancouver. Her name was 'Ashley'. 'She' asked what mechanical work had been done on the car. 'She' asked for a Vin-enterprises report. I looked it up, and sure enough, came across this site. I asked 'Ashley' where 'she' was texting from. 'She' said Vancouver. When I asked what neighbourhood, 'she' said Knight. There is a Knight street, but it is hardly a neighbourhood. When I called 'Ashley' out, she stopped texting.

Delete

June 9, 2021 at 8:24 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: North End, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

lol, exact same thing here. Name was Bailey, wanted me to use the same website. First thing I noticed was "For complains email:complains@" I think they mean complaints. I to did a search for vin-enterprises scam and seen all this. Told him to basically get bent.

He called it a "VS" report and I stumbled across VS Enterprises based in New Delhi. The phone number used was 313-329-0848 which is registered in Southfield Michigan, and in our conversation he tells me he is from London Ont. Regardless I am on the easy coast of Canada.

Delete

June 8, 2021 at 1:35 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Downtown, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

June 8th, 2021 - I had similar in Calgary AB, text from 313-241-5781 (Chicago) asking for vin-enterprises.com report. I sent CarFax but insisted on vin- ... and that he was ready to come down with "cashiers check" an American terminology. Asked if he was local and replied he was from Bassano AB. 100% scammer.

Delete

June 5, 2021 at 10:45 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Centretown-Downtown, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Guys, the EXACT same thing happened to me in Winnipeg, except he used the name Paul. Same story. I never clicked on the link and offered Carfax - he used the exact same response to everyone else. I think it's copy/paste or might even be automated texts.

Delete

June 2, 2021 at 4:32 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Kent, West Greenwich, Rhode Island, United States

Just got the same scam, same phone number (313-777-3147)

Delete

May 4, 2021 at 2:35 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Downtown North Bay, North Bay, Ontario, Canada

Scammed as well from this number 1-313-777-3147

Also gave us the link to vin-enterprises and then wanted a different report. I realized then that something was wrong as the person became argumentative.

BRUTAL! EVERYTHING IS A SCAM

Delete

May 4, 2021 at 2:22 PM by
Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website
an anonymous user from: Smith, Tyler, Texas, United States

I'm in Texas, and I got a text today from 913-286-6098, and they were insisting on me using this website to check the vehicle I was selling on Craigslist. They texted me a link, but I didn't click it. Instead, I did a Google search of 'vin-enterprises scam', and found a lot of warnings about it...even on RipoffReport.com. I think they are either a phishing, or credit card scam, or possibly, because they are new, they are trying to get business by paying people to text car ads all over the US and Canada, to get them to use their service...but I really think it is a phishing scam. The website was created on Feb 02 2021...I checked ICANN.org. Of course all the personal info about owners, addresses, etc., has been redacted.

The text conversation started by the person asking me 2 questions that had the answers in the ad! I even replied by asking if the person even read the ad before contacting me! Anyway, I told them the website is reviewed as a scam on the internet. They tried to argue it was legit, so I sent them the message 'BLOCKED', and proceeded to do just that.

I then edited the Craigslist ad to state for people to contact me by phone call only, and that emails and texts will not be answered. That is what I have done in the past, and it works. I was even getting texts where people were trying to negotiate the price. How can you negotiate a vehicle you have only seen pics of?

If someone is truly interested, they will call...

Delete

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

Is Vinenterprise a Scam? Vehicle History Website