Grand Canyon Times

Contacting the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) Fraud Hotline proved beneficial for a customer struggling to register a vehicle purchased from a used car dealership in the Valley. The issue arose when the dealership failed to provide the necessary title, leaving the customer with no option but to seek a bonded title.

The complaint was lodged on October 29, regarding a vehicle bought in February 2024. Upon investigation by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, it was discovered that the dealership had unlawfully advertised and sold the vehicle without possessing its title, violating state law.

Dealerships found breaching these laws face potential enforcement actions including cease and desist orders, criminal citations, or even license cancellations. Detectives managed to secure a special lien release affidavit after verifying prior transaction details. This led to an Arizona title being issued on December 9.

Lieutenant Jason Henderson from ADOT’s Office of Inspector General stated, “It is a wonderful feeling to not only address the violation and potentially prevent similar infractions, but to also help a constituent resolve their title issue and get them safely back on the road.” He encouraged reporting any suspected fraudulent activities involving driver licenses or vehicle titles.

ADOT provides a 24-hour Fraud Hotline for reporting such suspicions at 877.712.2370 or via email at [email protected]. Reports can also be filed online at azdot.gov/incident-report.

The Office of Inspector General investigates fraud related to driver licenses and VIN inspections and supports other law enforcement agencies in their investigations.