Car rego flaw makes it easy for fraudsters

CROOKS have been using outdated VicRoads processes to steal cars and transfer registrations into their own names under a flaw that continues to expose drivers to theft.

A new report from the Victorian Ombudsman has revealed fraud has become a major issue for the roads body, with frustrated motorists complaining their vehicles had changed hands without their knowledge.

Fraudsters have relied on the ability to file registration transfers to VicRoads without a complete set of information and nearly 200,000 cars are now swapped around without full documentation every year.

In some cases vehicles have moved between several owners without any of the people involved applying to change their registrations.

The Ombudsman first recommended changes to this system in 2005.

Melbourne man Gavin Sheehan has had four cars transferred in what he said was a clear breach of processes in 2017.

Mr Sheehan said bogus signatures were used in the theft of his Mercedes-Benzes, which he has been unable to recover. “They’ve transferred these vehicles without a roadworthy and without fees being paid,” he said.

“They transferred them immediately on presentation of the papers by the perpetrator.

“This sort of thing happens in no other state in Australia.”