HOUSTON – A Houston woman who rents out cars through her private rental company found her stolen vehicle sitting in another family’s driveway — sold to them with a forged title.
Brionte Shurn said what started as a routine rental quickly turned into a nightmare involving a fake ID, a stolen car and a family who unknowingly paid $7,000 for a vehicle that wasn’t for sale.
“To me it seemed like a normal instance. I rented out my Toyota Camry, 2018 Toyota Camry. I rented it out to what I believed was — Jasmine Williams is how she presented herself,” Shurn said.
Tracker leads owner to stolen car
Shurn said Williams never returned the car. Shurn said she waited as long as she could for Williams. She added that Williams’ communication was excellent in the beginning of the rental process.
“Two days of non-communication, I decided to drive to the location of the car. All cars of mine are activated with trackers, kill switches and stuff like that. I did activate the kill switch,” Shurn said.
When Shurn arrived, she found her Toyota Camry in a family’s driveway. The family, who did not speak English, told her they had purchased the car just four days earlier for $7,000.
“I hate to hear that, because this is my car,” Shurn said.
Shurn called 911, and officers were able to help her recover the vehicle — even though the family presented police with a title to the car.
“I called 911. 911 was able to help me recover my vehicle. They had a title. They presented police officers with a title to a car that I owned,” Shurn said.
Shurn said the family was not aware of the fraud.
Fake titles more common than you think
Harris County Constable Precinct 4 told KPRC 2 fake titles are more common than people realize in the Houston area.
“The police told me that they will investigate, that it is a serious issue. It’s a title fraud issue, a serious issue, theft,” Shurn said.
This is not a typical problem for Shurn’s rental business: Easy Rentals in Houston.
“Not like that. I have had some late payers, some people that haven’t returned the car in time,” she said.
Shurn said she approaches her customers with empathy.
“I haven’t always been a law-abiding citizen. I have a background. I have a criminal history, but I have changed my life. I understand the struggles between the two. I understand the battles to get to point A and point B,” Shurn said.
How to protect yourself when renting or buying a car
Whether you’re renting out a vehicle or buying one online, experts say taking the right precautions can help you avoid becoming the next victim.
Harris County recommends that anyone purchasing a car on Facebook or through private online listings take these steps:
- Match the owner’s ID to the car title
- Complete the transaction at a tax office to avoid fraud
- If the price seems too good to be true, don’t buy it
The Better Business Bureau offers these tips for car owners who rent out their vehicles:
- Use hardwired GPS trackers that cannot be easily found or removed by a renter
- Always visually match the person picking up the car with the physical driver’s license provided
- Avoid private, cash-only rentals
- Notify police immediately if your car is sold or stolen
The BBB also warns buyers to watch for these red flags when purchasing a car online:
- The price is significantly below market value
- The seller gives an overly personal reason for getting rid of the vehicle
- A buyer requests a specific, unfamiliar vehicle report and won’t accept reports you’ve already pulled
- The seller will not allow you to see the vehicle in person and insists on delivery
- Money must be sent to a third-party recommended by the seller
To avoid falling for an online car buying fraud, the BBB recommends:
- Using only approved Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) lookup websites
- Never purchasing a vehicle report for an interested buyer
- Viewing a vehicle in person before buying
- Being wary of too-good-to-be-true prices
- Picking up a vehicle yourself whenever possible
- Resisting high-pressure tactics urging quick action