SCAM SCAM

Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents.

Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

Staff

WYDOT Director, interim

Darin J. Westby, P.E.

Public Affairs Manager

Doug McGee

Editor

Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors

Jordan Achs Public Affairs

Matt Groth Public Affairs

Mark Horan Public Affairs

Carlie Van Winkle Public Affairs

Andrea Staley District 1

Jeff Goetz District 2

Stephanie Harsha District 3

Laura Dalles District 4

Cody Beers District 5

Sgt. Jeremy Beck Patrol the number of miles indicated.

Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/ wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employee’s internal website home page.

• Vehicles from locations experiencing extreme weather (flooding, hurricane, etc.) that are sold in another state without disclosing all damages, especially weather-related damages.

If anyone has also fallen victim to the recent trailer scam or other types of scams, contact WYDOT’s Compliance and Investigation program using their complaint form online at: https:// www.dot.state.wy.us/home/vehicle_ bus_regulation/vehicle-dealerships/ dealer_compliance.html or 307-777-3815 and/or the AG Consumer Protection unit via their complaint form online at: https://ag.wyo.gov/law-office-division/ consumer-protection-and-antitrust-unit/ consumer-complaints or at (307) 7778962.

In WYDOT’s 2021 Annual Report, Compliance and Investigation noted recent accomplishments, including seeing a 99 percent overall satisfaction rate from trainees throughout the year, assisting a Wyoming town with a title brand fraud case involving a licensed Wyoming dealer, an odometer fraud case that resulted in a Wyoming dealer’s license revocation, and helping a county clerk with a title alteration case and providing relevant training.

Compliance and Investigation has a

Headquarters office and investigators in three regions: southeast, northeast and western.

Protect Yourself From Scams

• Check that the business is included in the Wyoming Secretary of State’s list of registered businesses: https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/FilingSearch.aspx

• If buying from an automobile dealer, salvage yard or rental vehicle agency, check that they are included on WYDOT’s List of Licensed Vehicle Dealers, which can be found on WYDOT’s website: https://www.dot.state. wy.us/home/vehicle_bus_regulation/new-business.html

• Ask to inspect the vehicle or trailer in person or have a neutral third-party inspect in person. If the seller refuses, it could be a sign of a scam.

• Research the company; do an online search of their phone number, address and other company information to ensure the information matches the online ad or information given by the seller/buyer

• Ask for a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), license plate number or other registration information to use to confirm with the county directly and ensure they match.

• Use extreme caution if the seller or buyer insists on using money wiring services like Zelle, Venmo, Western Union or other unconventional methods like gift cards, but refuses alternative means of payment, including a personal check or meeting in person to exchange cash.

WYOMING DEALERSHIPS – AVOID HAVING YOUR COMPANY SPOOFED ONLINE BY SCAMMERS:

• Do regular internet searches for your business to see if results match your legitimate contact information

• Avoid sending a photo of your dealer license via the internet, instead point customers to the WYDOT licensed dealer’s page. Scammers sometimes use these photos on spoof websites.