Title fraud. The seller switched the title back to his name

[LionHeart]

Jurisdiction

Utah

So this problem is actually an interstate problem. We purchased a vehicle in Utah, paid for it with a check from our bank. Did all paperwork correctly, and then transferred that title into our name in idaho and registered the vehicle with no problems. Got a 2 year registration. Paid off the car in 1.5 years. Now when we are trying to renew our registration and idaho won't let us because the idaho registration was canceled 2 months after we purchased the vehicle. Come to find out the previous owner somehow got Utah to issue him a new Utah title in his name. So now the car we own it titled in his name. He then proceeded to secure a loan against that title.

Seems like fraud plain as day. We still have all paperwork. Even the check stub.

how can we get the title back in our name and shouldn't this guy be in trouble for fraud on multiple levels. Unfortunately since we paid off the loan before discovering the problem the bank has no skin in the game.

 

[adjusterjack]

Start by reporting this to the police in Utah where the guy lives. Can't predict whether he'll be prosecuted or not.

You can sue him but a crook like that will probably ignore the lawsuit, you'll get a default judgment and it may be impossible to collect from a deadbeat crook.

Meantime, read about Idaho's Conditional Title procedure.

Idaho Conditional Titles Fact Sheet

Go to your DMV and see if it can get you a conditional title and registration so you can at least keep using your car.

You may have to pay off the other guy's loan to get his lender to issue a lien release.

Bitter pill to swallow, but if your car is worth anything to you, you might not have much choice.

Sorry, I can't be more optimistic for you.