Car cloning is the practice of using a Vehicle Identification Number from a legal vehicle on a stolen car so that it can be registered and sold in another state.

Although the practice is used by thieves to sell stolen luxury cars and high-end SUVs, car cloning can be used on any vehicle.

If you buy a car that has been stolen, even if it appears to be legally registered, it will be confiscated if it is discovered that it was stolen.

After all, it belongs to the original owner.

According to the FBI, these are tips to avoid becoming the victim of car cloning:

• If you think your car was cloned (for instance, you receive notice of unpaid parking tickets that aren't yours), contact your local police.
• If you're car shopping, beware of a car being sold for substantially less than comparable makes and models.
• Get a copy of the car's vehicle history report.
• Check out the VIN plate on the dashboard for any evidence of tampering (scratches, etc.).
• Look for incorrect spellings on paperwork, like vehicle titles.
• Trust your intuition — if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

If you think that someone has offered to sell you a car that has been cloned, call your local police immediately.