Calgary man selling vehicles online rolled back odometers, say police

A Calgary man has been charged with fraud after police say he bought vehicles at auction with high kilometres and then rolled back the odometer.

Calgary police say more than 54 vehicles were sold to unsuspectingbuyers through websites likeKijiji, Craigslist and Auto Trader.

"The offender was purchasing vehicles from the auction houseat which time he would take those vehicles and maybe have small repairs done to them, maybe tune-upschange some parts out and take them to auto repair facilities where we believe the odometers were rolled back," saidStaff Sgt. KristieVerheul.

In one case, the odometer was rolled back approximately 208,000 kilometres.

The investigation was launched when acredit card company tipped off police in January that "locally skimmed cards" were being used to service the vehicles and buy parts.

A 28-year-oldman faces one count of fraud over $5,000.

Police say the approximate value of fraud is $300,000, with the number likely to increase as more victims are identified.