Consumers on High Alert Over Rise in Vehicle Fraud; Carfax Spokesperson Available to Provide Tips to Avoid Being a Victim.

Thousands of used car buyers are at risk each day of becoming a victim of vehicle fraud. Carfax communications director Larry Gamache is available to provide insight on the many pitfalls consumers may encounter when purchasing a used car.

Share with your audience the latest information and tips to avoid the various scams con artists use to dupe consumers. These include:

--Airbag fraud. One out of every 25 previously deployed airbags are replaced with either dummy or non-working airbag units, costing insurance companies and consumers an average of $50 million a year.

--Odometer rollbacks. Each case of odometer fraud costs consumers more than $2,300. Digital odometers are rolled back in a matter of seconds by equipment that can be purchased over the Internet.

--VIN cloning. More than 1.5 million vehicles are stolen in the U.S. each year. From these, 225,000 have their vehicle identification numbers switched to conceal their identity and are sold to unknowing consumers.

--Curbstoning. An estimated 60 to 90 percent of vehicles sold in classifieds or at the curb are sold by unlicensed dealers posing as private sellers.

Carfax is the most trusted provider of vehicle history information and a leading advocate in helping consumers avoid vehicle fraud.

To schedule interviews or a demonstration, contact Christopher Basso of Carfax, 703-934-2664.