odometer wind back Page 51

Odometer wind-back is old-fashioned fraud dressed in a digital suit, and yes, it’s illegal in Australia with hefty fines and potential criminal charges. Tell-tale signs include wear and tear that doesn’t match the claimed kilometres, patchy or out-of-order service records, and instrument clusters that look tampered with or recently replaced. Always run a PPSR check, verify logbooks and invoices, and get a trusted mechanic to inspect the car before you hand over your hard-earned. Many modern cars store distance data in multiple modules, so a rollback rarely fools everything. If something smells off, walk away—there are plenty of straight-shooting listings on Tradingpost. Consider it your first line of defence against creative storytelling.