KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 -- A recent police bust of a major car cloning syndicate has shed light on a sophisticated and deceptive vehicle fraud operating in Malaysia.

While not yet at a critical level, Bukit Aman CID director Datuk M Kumar said the crime poses significant risks not only to the original owners but also to unwitting buyers who can face legal consequences.

Following the arrest of 12 individuals and the seizure of RM1.1 million worth of cloned vehicles, police have detailed the syndicate's methods to help the public understand and avoid this growing threat.

Here's what you need to know about car cloning.

What exactly is car cloning?

At its core, car cloning is identity theft for vehicles. It's a criminal process where a st...