ATLANTA — Consumers looking to buy a used vehicle are being warned about a scam that can make a stolen or damaged car appear legitimate.

VIN cloning happens when criminals copy the vehicle identification number, or VIN, from a legitimate vehicle and place it on a stolen or damaged vehicle.

The cloned VIN can make the vehicle appear to have a clean history, even though it may have a hidden history of theft or damage.

According to iSeeCars, buyers may not realize they purchased a cloned vehicle until police seize the car, an insurance claim is denied or they run into problems registering it.

Before buying a used vehicle, consumers should carefully verify the VIN and check the vehicle’s history to make sure the identification number matches the vehicle and its records.