[Lynn]

Sorry about your troubles. Guessing you ran the vin as 124379L509293? Just to be safe, might have your buddy also run 123379L509293. It isn't LIKELY, but is POSSIBLE it started life as a six banger, and was converted when the previous owner swapped the vin. He may have used the drivetrain from the donor, and used the VIN to cover up that it started life as a six.

Might check the rivets on the VIN to see if they are rosette rivets. PO may have used the entire dash panel from the "donor" car.

Once both possible VIN's are checked out, and you know for certain the car is not a stolen car, it should be possible to get a State assigned VIN. Either way, you should probably pull the ebay ad for now. If you decide to sell after correcting the VIN issue, you can re-list.

Personally, if you still have the auto trader ad, that means you can most likely find the PO, if he is still alive. Most fraud transaction statutes of limitations don't begin to run until the fraud is discovered. Whoever swapped the VIN tag committed a crime, as well as perpetrating a fraud upon you.

Good luck.