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A common-law couple and two brothers have been charged in connection with a scam in which odometers of high-mileage vehicles were rolled back and resold to unsuspecting buyers.

In some cases the vehicles had been damaged in collisions, written off by insurance companies, and deemed not roadworthy, say police.

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“This case was a priority and extremely concerning because of the risk to the public,” said Staff Sgt. Kristie Verheul of the Calgary Police Service’s economic crimes unit. “These vehicles were salvage vehicles or needed significant mechanical work. And the unsuspected victims have bought them and are driving them like they are newer vehicles.”

Verheul emphasized it’s not an offence to roll back odometers, but it is to knowingly misrepresent the number of kilometres on a vehicle.

She said police launched an investigation on April 10 into a group of people allegedly perpetrating these frauds after several complainants came forward, adding investigators quickly learned there was a larger trend than just a few victims.

She alleges the man and woman in the common-law relationship were involved in these frauds dating back to June 2013, with the man acting as co-ordinator, and the two brothers later joined in April 2015.