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Identity theft is the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person’s private identifying information usually for financial gain: in plain speak, someone finds a way to get your personal information and uses it to steal money from you, or some institution while pretending to be you. Bear in mind that they are stealing your information with your permission, and they can do so by stealing the name, drivers license, social security number(social insurance number-Canada), or any sort of national ID number where you live. For a lot of the African scams, they ask for your passport number(not sure what they do with it. So basically, they use your ID and they commit a scam or fraud. There are many different kinds of identity theft, and I swear to God, there are folks out there trying every day to come up with new ones.Jerry worked in customer service at a department store answering calls. Most of the time it’s a customer trying to get a discount. He usually just gave it to them since they were only paying him $9.00 an hour. He had a woman that ordered a $1,200 men’s watch over the phone and didn’t ask for a discount. She gave him a really weird name for who it was going to and a normal male name for the credit card. He just assumed it was her husband. He asked for the credit card number and She swore that the credit card number was on file with the store and wanted him to check. Sure enough, he found it but it got declined when he tried to put the order through. He told her that he could transfer her to the credit Dept, to see why it got declined so he placed her on a brief hold while he talked to the credit Dept. and they told him that the credit card she used was reported stolen that morning. She was obviously stealing and the fraud department took it from there. Never found out what happened.A stolen identity is something that you should take seriously, and something that you should worry about. I have read off many cases where people have totally taken over people’s entire life- taken their jobs, home(s), money, wife/husband, yes they did- you would be surprised what a little dye and plastic surgery can do. And in most cases, the real person has a very hard time trying to prove that they are who they say they are. I could remember seeing a movie years ago when the actual person tried to prove their case- they were thrown in jail, and it took some very skilled detective work to get them out. So, be on guard and be very carefulHow Is Your Identity Stolen?Your identity and personal information is always at risk and can be stolen long before you realize you're a victim. In most cases of identity theft, you don't find out you are a victim until you review your credit card statement or receive notices in the mail about new accounts you didn't open, charges you didn't make, or until you're contacted by a debt collector.There are a lot of signs of identity theft to look out for. Here is a list of the 10 most common ways your identity may be stolen and 5 ways that information is used:10 Common Ways Your Identity Can Be StolenData BreachesInternet HackingDark Web MarketplacesMalware ActivityCredit Card TheftMail TheftPhishing and Spam AttacksWiFi HackingMobile Phone TheftATM Skimmers5 Common Ways Your Identity is UsedThieves open fraudulent credit card accounts in your name.Thieves use your credit cards or account numbers to make purchases.Thieves sell your personal information on the dark web—Social Security number, credit card, and account information—to commit credit fraud, medical fraud and more.Thieves file fraudulent taxes and/or steal your tax refunds.Thieves know your account passwords, bank PIN numbers or other passwords to access your computer, your financial accounts or use your Social Security number and other personal information to gain access or even commit child ID theft.How Identity Theft Can Affect YouBeing a victim of identity theft can affect you through immediate financial loss, damage to your credit, emotional distress, plus time and energy to resolve. Identity theft puts your personal information at risk, globally, to individuals and organized crime while going unnoticed.That damage can result in late payments, harm done to your credit, and even IRS penalties requiring investigations and long-term assistance if you are a tax ID theft victim. It can also result in losing account access, having your personal accounts taken over by thieves and general loss of data privacy.What if You Think You're a Victim of ID Theft?If you think you are a victim of identity theft immediately submit a report about the theft to the Federal Trade Commission's website (Identity Theft Recovery Steps).You will also want to alert the holder of the fraudulent debt or the company involved in the identity theft and report it to the credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file.If you contact Experian, they will share the alert with the other bureaus. From there, you can then decide whether to start the process of further protecting your identity moving forward.8 Steps to Take if You Think You Are a Victim of ID Theft:File an identity theft report with the FTCAdd a 90-day fraud alert to your credit reportReview your Experian Credit ReportNotify Experian to resolve fraudulent activity on your credit reportAdd a 7-year fraud victim alert to your credit reportNotify lenders and credit card companiesReport your victimization to state and federal agenciesContinue to monitor your credit for anything suspiciousIf you know your personal information has been compromised or in fact stolen, you may want to consider locking or freezing your credit reports.You also should understand how to stay ahead of any future identity theft issues and learn more about how to protect your personal information along with what to do after a data breach.Prevent Identity TheftKeep these tips in mind to protect yourself from identity theft:Secure your Social Security number (SSN). Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Only give out your SSN when absolutely necessary.Don’t share personal information (birthdate, Social Security number, or bank account number) just because someone asks for it.Collect mail every day. Place a hold on your mail when you are away from home for several days.Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender.Use the security features on your mobile phone.Update sharing and firewall settings when you're on a public wi-fi network. Use a virtual private network, if you use public wi-fi.Review your credit card and bank account statements. Compare receipts with account statements. Watch for unauthorized transactions.Shred receipts, credit offers, account statements, and expired credit cards, to prevent “dumpster divers” from getting your personal information.Store personal information in a safe place.Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home computer.Create complex passwords that identity thieves cannot guess. Change your passwords if a company that you do business with has a breach of its databasesReview your credit reports once a year. Be certain that they don't include accounts that you have not opened. You can order it for free from Annualcreditreport.com.Freeze your credit files with Equifax, Experian, Innovis, TransUnion, and the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange for free. Credit freezes prevent someone from applying for and getting approval for a credit account or utility services in your name.Another very important point to consider is that you have to be very careful what you throw away in your garbage, there are people who will search your garbage to find your personal information to use it. If you do most of your transactions online, be very careful what emails you open. Some of these guys are very slick at sending attractive emails, with winning prices or some sort of attractive offers, cloaked with information-stealing viruses. Here in Canada, they will send you emails with very authentic looking letters from the government or other business documents asking you to click on links, which will also steal your emails. I always get the ones from Paypal asking me to sign in on some links, where they would steal my info. I normally just log into my real Paypal account to double checkI have gotten the one from the FBI telling me that there is pornography on my computer and will be arrested on March/19, except I pay 10,000- I am still waiting on that arrest. And of course tonight, I received one telling me that my Netflix account will be canceled, except I click on the link to make my payment. I have never applied for Netflix. I say all this to say, don’t get caught by these many tricks.

Monitoring of your data is possible with the help of alerts generated by agencies like Experian and Equifax, but detection after theft has occurred is not easy. Scanning the dark web carries a different set of risks.The span available for the hackers to mis-utize card information is till the next billing cycle. In case misuse is detected by certain cardholders, the cards are supposed to be cancelled and new ones re-issued to the customers.An article on Digital Guardian dated 2018 says thatBlack Hat researchers have been able to use intelligence and data forensics to process vast swathes of information on the web.Researchers with Terbium, a dark web data intelligence company and the Royal Bank of Canada, described how they were able to use intelligence harvested from the dark web, alongside transactional data, to trace the history of payment card fraud victims.By analyzing compromised cards and building up candidate groups, the researchers said can determine the point of compromise, or at least make an informed inference as to where certain cards may have been hacked.“It’s a classic big data problem,” Cathal Smyth, a machine learning researcher with the Royal Bank of Canada's Vanguard cybersecurity team, said in a Black Hat session Thursday morning. “Often a breach can affect a large number of clients with a huge number of transactions, but there’s still a degree of uncertainty. Trying to find the right combination of candidates [victims] is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”Source: Using Dark Web Data and Intelligence to Trace Payment Card Fraud

If you are looking for the history of a specific vehicle - than there are no free sites. Nobody is going to collect all that data - 20,000 sources for Carfax, pay for all the computers to run the site and all the employees to run the computers - and give it away for free.The freebies provided are purely adequate to tell you you will could purchase the completed record on the vehicle. If you need a complete VIN Check money will have to be paid.Assigned by automakers, a vehicle identification number (VIN) is a combination of 17 characters (numbers and letters) assigned to a car or truck during production. Like a Social Security number for your car, a vehicle's VIN number provides important information, such as the location of its original build and the type of engine. As of 1981 all vehicles have a VIN with 17 characters.A VIN can normally be found:Beneath the windshield on the driver's side of the vehicle.In the engine bay on the firewall.On a sticker or metal plate on the driver's side doorjamb.If you are still unable to locate your VIN number, there are other locations on the interior and exterior of a vehicle that you should be able to locate.Breaking Down a VINEach of a VIN's 17 characters designates unique information about your vehicle. Here's what the numbers and letters will tell you:Understanding a VIN Check's ValueAside from revealing basic information such as the make and model of a vehicle, a VIN lookup is helpful for a couple different reasons and scenarios:A vehicle identification number check is commonly used by law enforcement to identify vehicle theft or fraud.For consumers, a VIN check helps reveal additional information on a vehicle's history when you're shopping for a used car.This is also referred to as a vehicle history report.Ordering a vehicle history report will provide information concerning:The number of owners a vehicle has had.Odometer readings and rollback alerts.Liens placed on a vehicle.Title and accident history, such as flooded or salvaged titles.“Lemon" determination.This information found on a VIN number lookup can be used to determine if you a purchasing vehicle from an honest seller and if a used car is worth the listing price.How to Avoid VIN FraudOne way that dishonest or unethical sellers can get around information provided by a VIN check or VIN lookup is to alter a vehicle's VIN number. The most common method is through VIN cloning, which involves taking license plates or VIN numbers from registered vehicles and placing them on stolen property. The stolen VINs can be used to change or forge title documents and alter the car's actual history before sale.Fortunately, there are measures you can take to avoid fraud or other scams. These include:Buying from a dealership with a good reputation.Searching used car listings that:Have buy-back guarantees.List only pre-checked vehicles.Checking the VINs on the car to make sure each number matches the vehicle title.Making sure to examine each VIN carefully for signs of tampering.Getting a vehicle history report, which provides clone alerts for suspect vehicles.Whether you're buying a used vehicle for yourself or a loved one, a vehicle history report is a valuable way to peer into your potential automobile's past and prevent the purchase of an unsafe or unsavory vehicle.If you're not familiar with the term, a vehicle history report, also known as a VIN check or VIN lookup, is a summary of valuable details that include:Title information.Accident history.Fire or flood damage.Other potential hidden problems.By using your the unique vehicle identification number (VIN) associated with that automobile, you can access vital car history details on a VIN number lookup.How VIN Check Information Is CollectedVehicle history reports are a compilation of public- and private-record information. VIN lookup vendors access data from a number of sources, including:State motor vehicle title agencies.Car manufacturers.Repair shops.Junk or salvage yards.Auto recyclers.Insurance companies.The bulk of information collected by VIN check vendors typically comes directly from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) operated by the U.S. Department of Justice. The businesses and organizations mentioned above report their information to the NMVTIS.Details on a VIN Lookup[1]You can expect NMVTIS-approved VIN number lookup to include the following:Title information, including:Current state of title/registration.Previous title history.This information sheds light on a car's ownership and protects consumers from purchasing a stolen vehicle.Odometer reading.This helps prevent fraud and protects customers from buying a car for more than it's actually worth.Brand history.These descriptive labels relate to the status of a car (i.e. junk, salvage, flood damaged, etc.) and are applied by state motor vehicle titling agencies.Total loss historyThis term is usually given to a car after severe damage. Knowing the total loss history can protect you from a vehicle that may be unsafe.Salvage history.This indicates the car was repaired after severe damage, which can also prevent the purchase of a potentially unsafe vehicle.While the NMVTIS reports are thorough, a more detailed car history report from another vendor may include:Vehicle repair and maintenance history.Open recalls.Information on multiple owners.The Cost of a VIN CheckIt's important to keep in mind that VIN number checks are not issued by any government agency, so they can range in both price and details.Some VIN lookup vendors offer basic information on free VIN checks, or free vehicle history reports, that could be useful before you dive deep into the specifics of your potential vehicle—such as a free “lemon" check to find out if there were any manufacturer buybacks or lemon records on the car.For recalls, lemon information, and other broad car history details about a particular make or model, you can always search online or check car manufacturers' websites.Initiated by an automaker or required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a recall is issued when a vehicle:Is found to have a safety-related defect.ORDoesn't meet federal safety standards any longer.When a recall occurs, it will be associated with the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of all affected registered vehicles. You can use your VIN to find out whether your car or other vehicle falls under the recall, and what your next steps are to have the problem repaired.VIN Recall InformationWhile most registered car owners will receive recall information by mail, this may not always be the case. If you hear a report of a recall for your vehicle's make and model, you should be proactive and run a VIN search.By running a VIN search on your vehicle, you will be made aware of:Current recalls issued for your vehicle.All safety recalls for your vehicle over the past 15 years.Any recalls that are incomplete.Note that a VIN search may NOT include information for your car such as:Non-safety related recalls.Recalls on international vehicles.Recently announced recalls.Recalls older than 15 years.Running a VIN SearchWhether you want more information regarding a recent vehicle recall, or you just want to check if a recall on your car exists, conducting a VIN search will get you up to date. The NHTSA provides a VIN lookup service to help you find relevant recall information.Other options to search recall information with your VIN include:Visiting your manufacturer's website.Get the NHTSA mobile app with the recall VIN alert.Sign up for NHTSA e-mail alerts.Obtain a vehicle history report (VHR) on your vehicle or a vehicle you're interested in purchasing.Getting Your Vehicle RepairedAny dealership that sells your vehicle make and model can make necessary repairs due to a recall. Be sure to call the dealership ahead of time and have your VIN number ready. You should not be charged for any repairs made because of a safety recall.Be prepared to wait. It may take several weeks to receive the parts needed for your vehicle's maintenance, due to the volume of other drivers getting the same repairs.Footnotes[1] What a VIN Check Reveals | Online VIN Lookup | DMV.ORGThere are quite a few reasonably-priced options when it comes to vehicle history reports. These include VinAudit - Official Site, and VinCheck Pro to name a few.FreeA free report can be obtained from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. However, I’d only recommend using this resource to determine if the car you’re interested in has been stolen or salvaged. It definitely doesn’t give the complete history but it’s a good starting point and a reliable free resource.Another free governmental resource is the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). The NMVTIS is run by the Federal Department of Justice and contains title information from all insurance carriers, auto recyclers, junkyards, and salvage yards in the US. Rather than a vehicle history report, the NMVTIS website provides a list of certified third-party companies that provide free and inexpensive vehicle history reports.VinCheckThe best free vehicle history report can be obtained from VinCheck(full disclosure, I work for the company). We’re new to the vehicle history industry and pride ourselves on offering the most comprehensive free VIN report for almost any car, truck, or motorcycle in the US. Like many of our paid competitors, we use the NMVTIS as well as information from countless Law Enforcement Agencies, junkyards, insurance companies, salvage yards, and more to build our comprehensive reports.A typical report will include everything you need to know about your prospective vehicle, such as:Basic info: year, make, model, mileage, etc.Odometer RecordsPrevious Vehicle Uses and IncidentsJunk / Salvage / Insurance RecordsTheft RecordsLien / Impound / Export RecordsSalvage Auction RecordsSales RecordsAccident RecordsTitle Records (including information on flood, fire, and hail damage, etc.)While CarFax and other competitors offer reports for a substantial cost, VinCheck’s reports are 100% free and unlimited. Buying a car is already expensive enough, so why spend more than you need to on a quality VIN report.Additional StepsIt’s important to note that no vehicle history report is completely comprehensive (not even the most expensive options). Running a VIN check is a vital step in the purchasing process along with a test drive and a vehicle inspection. For example, if repair work from an accident has been self-financed rather than run through insurance, it will likely not show on a VIN report. The best way to get a comprehensive view of the state of your prospective vehicle is to use both a VIN reporting service, as well as hiring an independent mechanic to examine it before you purchase the car.When shopping for your next vehicle, you naturally want to discover everything you can about its history. While the dealership or individual in possession of the car or truck you're considering can provide much of the information you need, such as what type of maintenance or repairs have been done throughout the years, you can't be completely assured of the accuracy of what they provide. Also, in the case of a vehicle with multiple previous owners, the last person to drive it may not even be able to answer all of the questions you have.This doesn't mean you should simply accept limited information at face value or give up on discovering any unknowns about your potential purchase. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of that car or truck is the key to unlocking a wealth of information from police reports to specifications. While it's true that many investigative searches by the VIN come with a price tag attached, you may be surprised at how much you can discover absolutely free.Part 1 of 5: How to read a VINPart of the reason the VIN can reveal so much information about a vehicle is because it’s the unique identifier of that particular car or truck. This ensures there is no mistake that what the number reveals applies solely to that vehicle and no other.What a lot of people don't realize, however, is that the number itself is quite revealing about specific details. Each number and letter of the VIN corresponds to a particular piece of information that may be helpful in making a purchase decision.The types of data on the VIN include where the vehicle was built and assembled, its model year, and the size of its engine. Refer to the chart below for a detailed breakdown of what each of a VIN's parts means.There are four main ways you can get a free VIN check, and each method targets a slightly different kind of information. Consequently, we suggest you use all four instead of a single means. You can make the best purchasing decisions when armed with the most knowledge about the vehicle you're interesting in buying.Ask the dealer or individual owner to write down the VIN on a piece of paper and conduct your research online before making any commitments. Don't let anyone pressure you into a purchase before you’re ready because there are plenty of other vehicles on the market. Take the time you need to feel sure about such a major decision, and don't hesitate to contact one of our technicians for advice.Part 2 of 5: Get Informed on vehicle specificationsRemember how every number and letter on the VIN corresponds with a particular piece of background about that vehicle? Since you can't be expected to remember what every little bit means, there is a free website that breaks all of that information down for you.Step 1: Go to the Vin Checker website in your browser.Step 2: Fill out the necessary information. Enter the VIN number of the vehicle you are researching and your zip code into the designated text boxes.Step 3: Review the report. Push the “Check Your VIN” button to reveal the vehicle's specifications, including fuel efficiency, NHTSA, and IIHS crash test ratings. Although there will be an option to purchase a more detailed report, the information you gain from this free search can be quite useful in making a purchase decision.Part 3 of 5: Ensure the title is free and clearThe last thing you want to do is get involved in purchasing stolen property or the complicated title history of a vehicle, especially when there is no shortage of cars and trucks with clean titles for sale. That's why it’s a good idea to rule out any chance that your potential purchase is less than on the up-and-up.Step 1: Visit the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website. The National Insurance Crime (NICB) is a non-profit organization committed to combating insurance fraud and related crime. It partners with various law enforcement agencies and casualty insurance companies to achieve this purpose.Step 2: Use VINCheck on the vehicle. Select the VINCheck option under the Theft and Fraud Awareness menu.Step 3: Examine the vehicle's report. Enter the VIN, check the box to agree to the NICB's terms of use, and enter the displayed verification code, then push the Search button. This reveals if the vehicle in question has a current theft report or outstanding title brand.Warning: The NICB does not reveal if there is an outstanding lien, but you can check for that information with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).Part 4 of 5: Make sure the vehicle isn’t part of a recallFew people consider the possibility that the vehicle that has caught their eye may have had a serious issue that resulted in a safety recall from the manufacturer. While most issues that merit a recall are quickly located and fixed, a few vehicles slip under the radar due to the changing of hands or locations.If you're like most people, you probably think a vehicle identification number (VIN) is just a series of random characters. Actually, each characters in this highly structured code has its own meaning. In fact, deciphering these codes is a hobby for some car enthusiasts, including collectors who want to own one of the first or last cars to come off an assembly line.When you're considering purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, it's always a good idea to obtain a vehicle history report (VHR) or VIN check. Knowing how to read the VIN could help you make an informed decision before you buy.Decoding a Sample VINThe infographic below provides a simplified look at a sample VIN. Keep in mind that vehicles manufactured before 1981 might have fewer characters than today's standard VIN of 17 charactersModel Year & Country CodesModel Year Character CodesAs shown above, the 10th character of the VIN indicates its model year.A: 1980 or 2010B: 1981 or 2011C: 1982 or 2012D: 1983 or 2013E: 1984 or 2014F: 1985 or 2015G: 1986 or 2016H: 1987 or 2017J: 1988K: 1989L: 1990M: 1991N: 1992P: 1993R: 1994S: 1995T: 1996V: 1997W: 1998X: 1999Y: 20001: 20012: 20023: 20034: 20045: 20056: 20067: 20078: 20089: 2009Country of Origin Character CodesThe 1st character in a car's vehicle identification number indicates the country in which it was manufactured.Some of the country codes include:1, 4, 5: United States2: Canada3A-37: MexicoJ: JapanVF-VR: France9: BrazilWA-W0: West GermanyS: Great BritainOk. That's all and good luck to you!A completely fee VIN check report lists title changes, theft and now flood damage on a used car. This is helpful in deciding whether or not to purchase a car. It is really free, and there is no credit card require. It is helpful in doing an initial screen on any used car, before you purchase a used car history report.I recommend you this site VIN Check or VinLOOKUP that is a good alternative to Carfax, and is one of the best sites to get a complete and detailed vehicle history report online.The information comes from a database that is collated by the NICB. The information in this database comes from insurance companies who report thefts, flood damage and other claims that relate to the information in your final reportThe decoder will usually tell you the make, model, year, type of restraint system, body style, engine and the assembly plant. This information is useful, as it provides important information about the vehicle. As an example, the seller might tell you that it's a 2004 Ford Taurus. But the VIN check might tell you that it is in fact a 2003 model. So you'll know right away that this is not a deal you should proceed with, as the seller is not being truthful about the vehicle. If they are not being honest about the model itself, you can bet they won't be revealing any hidden problems.So the free vehicle history report (VinLOOKUP) is in essence the free decoding of the VIN to tell you exactly what type of car you are considering. If you want to find out more information, as most buyers do, such as hidden mechanical issues, odometer problems, mileage, fire damage, etc. then you need to order a complete report.Carfax alternatives are useful tools for anyone in the business of buying a car; they give you history reports including other reports which help ensure that you are getting value for the amount of money you have to spend. This service ensures that you do not get a sour deal as you can know everything about your vehicle up front. The services are free excepting if you require a more detailed report or you are not buying from a car dealership.Where to find the VIN:A VIN decoder report from VIN Check Pro provides an entire database of information regarding your prospective car from government sources, including the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, state DMV, police records, and more than 40 million junk, salvage, and insurance records, including:Accident history recordsJunk, salvage, and total loss titlesStructural damage historyAny commercial taxi useOwnership and lease historyAny police use or recordsTheft history checkVehicle specificationsMore than 60 vehicle problem categoriesEnvironmental friendliness scoreOdometer estimatesRecallsSafety ratingsAccurate and More AffordableWhile Carfax reports are $39.99 for one report or $59.99 for five reports, VIN Check Pro is a much more affordable and accurate option at only $9.95 for one report and $15.95 for five reports.If you need a VIN lookup, VIN Check Pro is a smart stop in your research and for your pocketbook. Click here to visit the official website.While everyone else lists all these other services I’ll just cut to the chase for you- You cant be guaranteed youll ever know a cars history. The most sure fire method for me to date is to physically inspect the vehicle yourself (If you are a professional) or hire a professional. You will know more about the vehicle after that inspection than from any history report.Remember this key differentiation: A history report shows you whats been reported, an inspector tells you what they find. Carfax doesn’t look for anything, they just pump out what comes in.Google for local vehicle inspectors before you buy anything used. You WILL spend more, but you will get the truth about the vehicle as it is today which could actually save you much much more in the end.I will be writing more on the car buying process at Autohitch shortly. Oddly as big of a problem as this is much of the content on it is outdated and the stuff that isnt is skewed by people hitting you with a contact form.According to my understanding, CarFax and similar services rely on information provided to them by third parties including insurance companies, service, and repair shop, etc. However, neither CarFax nor any similar service can guarantee the completeness of their databases for many reasons, including:• accidents handled without insurance,• deliberate distortion of data on the part of the owner/sellerI believe that this is not the fault of CarFax, other similar companies or data providers but an inevitable drawback of any reporting system which can be manipulated on the part of people submitting the reports.Thus my idea is to use CarFax report as a useful tool to have a preliminary outline on a vehicle as a part of your due diligence -especially to get the information on number of previous owners, liens, flood-damage, etc. and other major issues - but in no case I would rely on it (or any of its competitors) as a single source of information.For the moment I am not aware that any other companies are in any respect better than CarFax or provide more comprehensive reports so I can not answer directly to your question.If by public, you mean free, then no. Experian owns a competitor to Carfax called Autocheck. The auto finance company where I work uses both Carfax and Autocheck. As others have mentioned, if you want basic information like whether or not a title is branded as salvage or flood damaged, then there are free sites provided by the government. Experian and Autocheck, on the other hand, are database aggregators. They compile their information from several sources including DMVs, insurance companies, police agencies, and even repair shops. You're not going to find anyone doing what they do, for free; which is why auto dealers and finance companies subscribe to their services.If its India you can take the car owner and go to the nearest authorized service station of that model.They have online records of all their cars. At least the service histories from day 1.If this is not available, then the car is a stolen one.This report is critical as it shows what the service engineer has recommended to be done on that car. Example, replace brake shoes. Then look at the work done receipt. (same place). If the brake shoes are not replaced within 2 services, then the car has been badly maintained.Obviously a true car enthusiast will not have anything to do with service stations. He will get it serviced and repaired independently. This is good. As long as he can produce all bills and receipts of the preceding years.You don’t want to buy a used car without checking out its history, which can let you know if it’s been in an accident or suffered major damage. Often, the vehicle history report can even give you important clues about how well it was maintained. I once made the mistake of forgoing a vehicle history when buying a cheap truck from a neighbor and wound up with a rebuilt rust bucket that ran for just 3000 miles before dying.CarFax is the gold standard for vehicle history reports, and while almost every dealership will give you a copy for free, it can get expensive if you have to pay for the reports—as much as $39.99 each! (You can also buy three reports for $79.99 or five for $99.99.) That’s money well spent before making a big investment, but it’s a lot to pay if you’re just trying to weed out bad cars before you waste much time with them. Experian’s AutoCheck is significantly cheaper than CarFax at $24.99 for a single report or $49.99 for 25 reports, but Edmunds reports that CarFax is worth the extra money.I recently replaced our SUV, and I found a few free vehicle history tools that saved me a small fortune in CarFax fees by letting me eliminate lemons before I got too far into the process. There are a lot of scammy Web sites that claim to help with car buying, but here are three that are legitimate and useful.Free Vehicle History ServicesFirst, to use any of these services, you must know the car’s vehicle identification number (VIN). Unfortunately, there is no single standard for this, but in the United States, it’s a 17-digit number found on the driver-side dash near the windshield. Auto dealers should provide the VIN in the vehicle’s online listing (and offer a free CarFax or AutoCheck report as well). If a private listing doesn’t feature the VIN, ask the seller.I’ll start with the most basic: the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s free VINCheck, which is limited to telling you if the vehicle is stolen or has a salvage title, which implies that it was in an accident so severe that it’s not worth repairing. Simply enter the VIN to receive the simple report.A more full-featured vehicle report comes from iSeeCars, which focuses on pricing information—enter the VIN, and it’ll figure out the make, model, and year. At the top of the report, it shows the estimated market value of the car and how long vehicles like it take to sell. Scroll down to see comparisons with similar vehicles for sale, depreciation, and even the best times to buy.My favorite of these free services is Vehicle History because it’s the most like CarFax and AutoCheck. You have to click through a few screens before receiving results, but the results are quite detailed. For instance, Vehicle History was able to tell me that a minivan I was looking at had been in a minor accident. I didn’t end up buying that minivan, but the report helped me lower the price (not enough, though).However, after comparing Vehicle History’s reports to those produced by CarFax, I’ve found that Vehicle History’s reports have a lot of gaps. For instance, the above report doesn’t include buyer history, which I’ve found to be valuable. As much as Vehicle History’s reports are useful for weeding out obvious lemons, you’ll want to use CarFax for cars that pass these early tests.How to Shop for Used Cars OnlineIf you or someone you know needs to buy a used car, here’s my suggested workflow for sorting them out online:Pick a handful of models in the category that you want. I wanted a reliable family hauler, so I winnowed my search down to a handful of models: the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna minivans and the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander SUVs. There’s nothing wrong with being particular, but the more flexible you are, the more likely that you’ll find a good deal.Search for vehicles on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Cars.com. We ended up finding our car through a Facebook group—most areas have local trading groups on Facebook, which can be a great resource.Gather a number of potential vehicles. An orderly approach would involve a spreadsheet or an app like DEVONthink, but I’ll confess to just having a browser window full of tabs.Look over the pictures and details carefully, and eliminate any that seem substandard. When you look at a bunch at a time, you get a good feel for the market prices in your area, but you can always check Kelley Blue Book if you’re unsure.Once you narrow your list of candidates, it’s time to start looking at vehicle histories. I usually start with Vehicle History, and if that all looks good, I’ll look at VINCheck to make sure it’s not stolen, and then iSeeCars to see how well it’s priced.Finally, it’s time to move on to CarFax.When to pay for a CarFax report is a tricky question. If the car is being sold by a dealer that offers a free CarFax or AutoCheck report on their Web site, I’ll look at that at the same time as the others. Private sellers often don’t offer such amenities, so you have to choose whether to pay for a report before or after you take a test drive. I prefer to hold off until after, because I want time to mull it over anyway, and I often find deal-breakers when I inspect a car in person that no amount of Internet research could reveal, like damaged upholstery, bad smells, and rust.Doing this, I found that one report can often reveal something not shown in others, so it’s worth checking all of them before you take the plunge.What to Look For in Vehicle History ReportsI’m not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV, and there are no hard and fast rules here, but here are a few things I always look for in these reports:Accidents, obviously. An accident won’t necessarily be a deal-killer, but it’s definitely a negotiating tool.Salvage or rebuilt titles (a rebuilt title denotes a car that was totaled and then repaired). I avoid both, but some people swear by salvage title cars.Number of previous owners. Some people will tell you to pass on any car with more than two owners. I tend to focus instead on the length of ownership. If the car has had four owners, and the last two each owned it for less than a year, that’s a sign that there’s something seriously wrong with the car.Cross-country moves. In the north, older cars tend to have rust problems, but in hotter southern parts of the country, rubber gaskets and seals may have dried out. Neither is necessarily an issue, but both are worth checking if the car has moved from a different part of the country.Tred suggests a few more things to look for, but you shouldn’t be overly reliant on any vehicle history report, since they don’t reveal all the problems that an experienced mechanic can spot.Finishing Your Research in the Real WorldAfter checking the vehicle’s history, you’re ready for a test drive and, ideally, some mechanical advice. Automotive Web sites will always tell you to pay for a mechanic’s inspection. That’s good advice, but not always possible, especially if you found a particularly good deal that people will be fighting over. I used to write for an automotive Web site and would advise people to walk away from such high-pressure situations, but if I’d followed my own advice, I wouldn’t have been able to buy our most recent car.Regardless, one of the smartest moves you can make is developing a good relationship with a mechanic in advance so you can get their advice or have them inspect the car before purchase. I’m lucky enough to know three, and when we were looking at the car we finally bought, they all told me to go buy it before someone else snapped it up. That turned out to be good advice because by the time we got to the dealership another family was trying to buy the car out from under us.Finally, the most important step is test-driving the car. I could talk a lot more about that, and many already have, so I’ll leave it to them (Scotty Kilmer is always fun to watch). I’ll say this much: you want to test every feature of the car, drive it at highway speed, check under the car before and after for leaks (understand that the air conditioner drains water under the car—that probably isn’t a leak), and check for major rust. You don’t usually have to be a trained mechanic to tell if a car is a lemon. But keep in mind that every used car comes with a set of trade-offs, and you need to be honest with yourself about what you’re willing to put up with. And never forget that entropy is real. There will always be some existing problems—our car needed new dome lights, a cabin filter, floor mats, and some headrests—but there are almost always more expenditures around the corner.Thanks to this process, we skipped a lot of potential headaches and wound up with a reasonably priced Honda Pilot with a single owner and a thorough service history. I quickly fixed all the minor problems, and we’ve had several thousand trouble-free miles since.Thanks