On March 13, 2026, police received a report that a vehicle that had been purchased via Facebook Marketplace appeared to have an altered odometer, resulting in the purchaser paying a price much higher than the vehicle’s actual value. Following an investigation, police arrested and charged Harmandeep Singh Bindra, 39, with fraud and uttering a forged document.
Investigators believe that Bindra has purchased several high-mileage vehicles via Facebook Marketplace since March 2025, changed the odometer on the vehicles by hundreds of thousands of kilometers and then sold the vehicles at a significantly higher price using a false Facebook account. Bindra has also reportedly provided false CARFAX reports to prospective buyers as proof that the vehicles have a lower odometer reading than they do. Bindra is known to buy and sell primarily Nissan Altimas, Honda Accords and Honda CRVs and may use aliases such as Hary Smith, Harry Singh, Harmandeep Singh and Gurdev.
To date, police have identified at least two complainants but believe there may be many more and are releasing Bindra’s photo to encourage them to come forward.
Harmandeep Singh Bindra, 39
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Bindra is encouraged to call the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.
If you plan to purchase a used vehicle via a private seller, investigators recommend reviewing the following tips from the EPS and Service Alberta:
- Ask for proof of ownership and identification from the seller - Compare photo identification to the name on the vehicle’s registration document and make sure they are the same. Record the seller’s driver’s license number and contact information on the bill of sale.
- Contact a registry agent or AMA to get a vehicle information report - this describes the vehicle’s registration history in Alberta.
- Consider online services such as CARFAX – Purchase this report on your own to ensure it has not been falsified. Also look for any noted colour changes and/or odometer discrepancies. Pay particular attention to a vehicle’s registration history. If the vehicle goes back and forth several times between provinces and/or states, it may be a clone.
- Get a safety inspection of the vehicle from a vehicle inspection facility.
- Keep detailed records of the transaction - Retain original copies of bills of sale, registrations, service records etc.
“When you are making a significant purchase like a vehicle, it is always a good idea to do your research first,” says Const. Amelia Towns with EPS Southwest Patrol Branch. “A CARFAX report will tell you the service history and any collisions the vehicle has been in. The small investment in this report may save you from the significant inconvenience of being scammed.”