California Department of Motor Vehicles investigators fanned out across the state recently to crack down against a nemesis of reputable dealers — curbstoners.

Officials highlighted that undercover officers issued 93 citations, gave 68 warnings, impounded 109 vehicles and arrested four individuals on outstanding warrants during the April 12 operation.

“Unlicensed car dealers called curbstoners typically purchase low end vehicles from private parties and salvage auction yards and usually do little, if any, mechanical or safety reconditioning. Curbstoners can face several thousand dollars in fines and fees for each confiscated vehicle,” Golden State DMV officials said.

“Curbstoners typically create pop-up lots by parking multiple vehicles in one location, clogging city streets, public parking lots and private property. They also lure potential buyers by advertising on websites like Craigslist; using different seller names, but the same phone number,” they went on to say.

Just like what frustrates dealers who are trying to move metal and build a larger customer base, California officials fear consumers can easily become victims of fraud involving issues like odometer tampering, undisclosed frame damage or salvage rebuilt vehicles, faulty safety devices, mechanics or promissory liens and other problems that may not be truthfully disclosed at the time of sale.

The agency went on to emphasize the most common crime committed by curbstoners is tax fraud.

“When an unsuspecting customer buys a car, the curbstoner will leave the title blank or ‘open.’ Without the curbstoner’s name on the document, they are able to pocket the money (usually cash) and avoid paying state sales tax, federal income tax and any other declarations that are legally required,” officials said.