KEY-SWAPPING SCAMS & AUTO THEFTS: BE ON HIGH ALERT

FADA advises members to be on high alert regarding their security measures as various thefts have been reported in the last two days in two different counties. In South Florida, vehicles were successfully stolen using a key swapping scam and in Central Florida vehicles were stolen during the night via forced entry.

To protect your dealership from a potential scam, always require a driver’s license or some form of identification whenever keys are present. Employees should use caution in keeping keys out of sight and not to leave the keys where a customer can get them (the above key swap occurred when the suspect distracted a salesman and left with the stolen keys; the cars were not taken for test drives, so none of the suspects were asked to produce identification).

Please advise all greeters, salespeople, and receptionists that if anyone seems suspicious, they should immediately dial 911. Tell the 911 operator that you have a possible key swap suspect in your dealership.