When it comes to buying a vehicle, many unsuspecting consumers fall prey to the deceitful scheme of "odometer fraud." This is when sellers roll back odometers to falsely portray lower mileage, leading to potentially huge financial losses for buyers.

Gabriel Graziano, a resident of Woodbridge, Ontario, experienced this first-hand after purchasing a 2019 Ford F-150 pickup from a dealership in 2023. Although he checked a CARFAX report before completing the purchase and found no warning signs, his joy quickly turned to shock when he discovered the odometer had been tampered with during a trade-in attempt this summer.

"I was completely taken aback by it," Graziano recounted, expressing his disbelief.

The CARFAX report he initially reviewed lacked mileage information, and upon further scrutiny, it flagged his truck for a potential odometer rollback. He realized that while his odometer showed 153,000 kilometers, the actual mileage was closer to a staggering 197,000 kilometers—meaning someone had rolled it back by approximately 44,000 kilometers.

This shocking revelation has led to a significant depreciation in the truck's value, which Graziano estimates has plummeted by $5,000 to $10,000. In light of this discovery, he returned to the dealership, demanding a buyback.

"I was not given the proper information when I purchased the vehicle. I want them to take the truck back," he insisted.

Seeking clarity, Graziano also contacted CARFAX to address the discrepancy in mileage.

A spokesperson for CARFAX Canada informed CTV News, "At the time of purchase, relevant service and odometer records were unavailable to us and thus not shown in the Vehicle History Report. We later obtained new data, revealing significant odometer discrepancies." They acknowledged an error on their end and expressed regret for the oversight.

Sadly, Graziano isn’t alone in this dilemma. Another victim, Dennis Estevez, discovered he had purchased a truck with 184,000 kilometers, only to find the true mileage was a staggering 320,000.

To protect yourself from such scams, the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) urges buyers to always obtain a CARFAX report and a used vehicle information package (UVIP) before committing to a purchase. They also recommend having the vehicle thoroughly inspected by a mechanic.

"Odometer rollbacks are a serious issue that consumers need to be aware of," warned an OMVIC spokesperson. They also noted that victims of odometer fraud can file complaints and may be eligible for compensation from the Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund (MVDCF) if purchased from registered dealers.

After being contacted by CTV News, Graziano received a positive response from the dealership, agreeing to compensate him for the odometer issue. This case serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of diligence when purchasing a vehicle.