Odometer (Mileage) Blocker Investigation
Kilometer Blocker and Filtering Fraud Investigation.
Digitpol's Automotive team specializes in investigating mileage fraud. Devices such as KM blockers or mileage blockers can prevent the kilometers from being displayed on the dashboard, but the actual mileage is often still stored in other CAN bus messages and various ECUs. We are able to investigate a vehicle at the chip level to recover the original mileage readings or determine if fraud has occurred. Odometer blockers or kilometer filters present a significant issue for the automotive industry.
Digitpol Automotive is a dedicated specialized unit that primarily deals with vehicles and security matters. With a wealth of expertise, our comprehensive range of services covers various areas, such as, ANPR services, IOT development, covert audio devices, covertly installing GPS trackers and telematics applications, conducting vehicle forensics examinations, investigating insurance fraud cases, tracking stolen vehicles, and providing vehicle security applications tailored for government and security services. Digitpol is a leader in Telematics and Forensics of Connected Vehicles.
What is a Car Mileage Blocker?
A car mileage blocker (or sometimes referred to as a "mileage tampering device" or "odometer blocker") is typically an electronic device or software used to alter, block, or manipulate the recorded mileage on a vehicle's odometer. These devices can work in several ways:
- Odometer Rollback: Some devices can physically or electronically alter the readings of an odometer, reducing the number of kilometers or miles a car has traveled.
- Mileage Blocking: A blocker can prevent the odometer from recording new mileage, effectively freezing it at a certain point.
- GPS Manipulation: In modern vehicles with GPS tracking, a mileage blocker might interfere with GPS data to falsify the distance the vehicle has traveled, making it appear as if less mileage has been covered.
Why Are Car Mileage Blockers Used?
Car mileage tampering, including the use of blockers, is often associated with fraudulent activity. Here are some reasons why people might use them:
- Resale Fraud: Sellers may use mileage blockers to reduce the odometer reading of a car, making it appear as though the car has been driven less than it really has. This is common in the used car market, where vehicles with lower mileage tend to command higher resale prices.
- Insurance Fraud: Lowering a vehicle’s recorded mileage can also result in lower insurance premiums, since insurance companies often base premiums on the vehicle’s age, condition, and mileage.
- Fleet Management: Fleet operators may use mileage blockers to avoid paying for routine maintenance or avoid triggering maintenance schedules. They might also use these devices to hide the actual wear and tear on vehicles.
- Tax Fraud: In some cases, companies or individuals may tamper with mileage records to reduce taxes related to vehicle depreciation or reimbursements for business-related travel.
Legal Issues Surrounding Mileage Blockers
Mileage tampering is illegal in many jurisdictions because it’s considered a form of fraud. Here’s why it’s a problem:
- Consumer Protection Laws: In most countries, selling a car with tampered mileage is illegal. For example, in the U.S., federal law mandates that tampering with a vehicle’s odometer is a criminal offense.
- Insurance Fraud: Altering mileage to affect insurance premiums or claims can be classified as insurance fraud, which is a serious crime with potential fines and jail time.
- Warranty and Liability Issues: By tampering with the mileage, individuals or businesses can also void warranties or be liable for damages caused by vehicles that were not properly maintained.
ECU Forensics
Digitpol's Automotive Team specialize in recovery of deleted KM, VIN and Serial numbers from all types of coded ECU's. ABS. Airbag modules, Instrument clusters (dashboards), Keys and Navigation units.
- KM reading
- VIN & Serial numbers
- History and faults with times and KM
- Crash data, events and historic faults.
Key Forensics
Is The Key Original? Does it belong to the claim?
Recovery of data from Keys - Transponder Chip Forensics
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Transponder ID
- How many keys are coded to the vehicle, which key is it
- The last KM reading
- The Fuel status
- Vehicle data paired with the last entry
GPS Forensics
Digitpol has tools to recover evidence from the following systems installed in the following vehicle brands.
BMW | Toyota | Ford | VW | Audi | Skoda | Seat (RNS510)
Volvo | Mercedes-Benz | Nissan | Toyota | Lexus | Porsche | Landrover
Many other OEM Systems which run similar operating systems. A service for Law Enforcement Only.
Crash Data Recovery
Crash data recovery is a specialized area of digital forensics that involves the recovery and analysis of data from a vehicle's airbag control module (ACM) or event data recorder (EDR) following a motor vehicle accident.
The ACM or EDR is a component of a vehicle's safety system that records data related to the vehicle's speed, braking, acceleration, and other performance metrics leading up to and during an accident.
Kilometer (KM) Fraud
We investigate mileage fraud, devices known KM blockers or mileage blockers can hold back the KM's been written to the dashboard but the KM's are often still stored stored in other can bus messages and saved in different ECU's. We can investigate a vehicle at chip level to recover original KM readings or identify if fraud has taken place. Odometer Blocker or Kilometer Filter's are a major problem for the automotive industry.
Re-fitting of seized parts
Vehicle are often stolen for their parts, often all the parts are seized by Police along side the vehicle, we provide the collection of vehicle and parts and the re-assembly of the recovered parts, this fast tracks the repatriation process and ensures the vehicle can be presented to a dealer or inspection center for a final check.
Aftercare of Recovered Stolen Vehicles
Stolen cars require a detailed inspection once they are recovered, this covers how many keys are coded, replacement of keys, locks, clearing of fault codes, re-coding new keys and a total inspection to ensure the vehicle can be repaired to a pre-stolen state and can be re-sold.
GPS Trackers & Alarms
We supply and fit GPS Trackers and Alarms to all vehicles, if your vehicle is stolen and is to be returned to you, we can return it with a GPS Tracker installed and an alarm system fitted, this is essential as it is common vehicles are re-stolen. Due to inadequate security measures, many vehicles are vulnerable to theft. Factory-installed alarm systems are often susceptible to hacking by criminal organizations.
