It said fraudsters are now using more sophisticated methods to clone vans and dupe unsuspecting customers.

To reduce the risk of buying a cloned van on the private market HPI urged customers to check the model’s history
and to view it at the registered keeper’s address, as shown on the log book, to be on guard if the vehicle is offered at less than 70% of market value, as no vendor will want to make a loss, and to avoid paying with large sums of cash.
HPI said cloners would often accept a banker’s draft as part- payment for a light commercial vehicle without ever cashing it and risk being traced, because the cash part would enable them to make sufficient profit anyway.
Finally, HPI advised buyers to check the log book because stolen documents are still being used to accompany cloned vans despite the introduction of the new red and blue V5 certificate.