Mechanic shows just how easy it is to change car mileage

• A mechanic on TikTok showed how he could reduce a car’s odometer by more than 100,000 miles in just seconds using a tablet.
• Federal law makes altering mileage to mislead buyers a crime punishable by prison time and heavy fines.
• CARFAX and other vehicle history reports can reveal suspicious mileage changes, but buyers are urged to stay cautious.

A TikTok video has revealed how quickly a car’s odometer reading can be manipulated with the right tools, raising fresh concerns for used car buyers.

The clip, posted by Rami (@rami_sf415), shows him connecting a tablet device to his car’s dashboard computer. Within moments the odometer reading drops from above 190,000 miles to below 100,000. “You just better watch out,” Rami warns in the video, “because I might just be the last one who was in the car before you buy it.”

While some commenters joked about the stunt, others noted that tampering with mileage to sell a vehicle is a federal offence. Anyone caught deceiving buyers can face up to three years in prison along with significant fines.

Some TikTok users pointed to CARFAX as a safeguard, with the company offering reports that can highlight unusual mileage patterns. Though not foolproof, these reports remain one of the most effective tools available to protect consumers from odometer fraud.

The viral video has been viewed nearly a million times and has sparked debate online about how easily fraud can occur if buyers fail to check a vehicle’s history before making a purchase.

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