ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – What began as an unexpected knock at Amber Wolnomiejski’s door quickly became a nightmare: deputies took away the SUV she says she is still making monthly payments on.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office impounded Wolnomiejski’s 2019 Nissan Rogue after investigators determined the vehicle identification number, commonly known as a VIN, displayed on the dashboard was not legitimate.
“They said, you now have to hand over you car,” Wolnomiejski told News 6.
Wolnomiejski said the VIN on the Rogue matched the number listed in a carsforsale.com report she reviewed before buying the vehicle from an Orlando used car dealership in 2023. But when deputies examined the SUV at her home in December 2025, they discovered a second VIN that did not match the one on the dashboard.
The investigation deepened after the Rogue was taken to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for a more detailed inspection. There, investigators said they uncovered a third VIN — one connected to a vehicle reported stolen in Orange County in April 2019.
Wolnomiejski has since filed a lawsuit against LC Motors 1 Inc., the dealership that sold her the vehicle, alleging breach of contract, fraudulent inducement and civil theft.
“You would think that somebody who sells cars, buys and sells cars for a living, would notice something as glaring as three VINs on one vehicle,” she said.
News 6 contacted the dealership seeking answers about how a vehicle tied to a stolen-car report ended up on its lot and was ultimately sold to Wolnomiejski.
An employee said LC Motors 1 Inc. purchased the Nissan from a wholesale auction— a source they have used for years. News 6 then contacted that auction company, Manheim, which on its website calls itself the world’s largest automotive marketplace.
We asked whether Manheim inspects vehicles before selling them and what safeguards are in place to prevent stolen vehicles from reaching buyers. A spokesperson responded in a statement.
“Manheim is an industry-leading nationwide wholesale used vehicle services company that facilitates millions of sales each year between registered commercial and dealer buyers and sellers. We are not the owner of the vehicles sold at auction and are not a consumer-facing business. In a rare circumstance like this, we rely on our local law enforcement partners to investigate and would direct you to the department listed on the report you shared.”
In the meantime, Wolnomiejski is still paying off the more than $20,000 loan she received to pay for the vehicle.
“I’m still paying $330 a month for a car that I don’t have and living well below my means right now,” she said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office told News 6 the vehicle was returned to the theft victim, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and that Wolnomiejski is now a fraud victim.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, “Broadly speaking, stolen cars being re-VINed is not a new thing, but we think that has grown substantially with the rise of platforms like Facebook Marketplace and others.”
If you are in the market for a used vehicle, the agency said there are things consumers can do to help protect themselves and check a VIN:
Take a car you are interested in buying to a licensed mechanic that has the equipment necessary to check. Dealerships would also be able to do this.
If the doorframe VIN does not match the VIN on the dashboard, that is a red flag.
Take a photo of the individual you are buying from and a photo of their driver’s license.
Some manufacturers are now etching the VIN on windows, because in the event those cars are stolen, they would have to replace all windows, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
