Phoenix, AZ – A stolen vehicle from California was recently discovered fraudulently registered in Arizona, thanks to a call to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) Fraud Hotline.
According to ADOT, the case began when an out-of-state driver attempted to renew vehicle registration in California and learned his car had already been registered under the same vehicle identification number (VIN) in Arizona.
Detectives with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General investigated the report on Sept. 2 and found that another car carrying the same VIN was titled in Arizona on Feb. 21, 2024. That vehicle was later confirmed to have been reported stolen by the San Diego Police Department in 2022.
Investigators determined that a duplicate California title, containing the victim’s name and forged signature, had been used to register the stolen car in Arizona.
On Sept. 10, 2025, ADOT detectives canceled the fraudulent title, allowing the rightful owner to register his actual car in California. The stolen vehicle was seized and turned over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety to be returned to its owner.
Lieutenant Jason Henderson of ADOT’s Office of Inspector General praised the successful recovery, encouraging anyone who suspects fraud involving a driver’s license, ID, or vehicle title to report it immediately.
Residents can report suspected fraud through ADOT’s 24-hour Fraud Hotline or online at azdot.gov/incident-report.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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