In recent months, a worrying trend has resurfaced: car thefts following TikTok videos. Criminals use the platform's virality to find potential victims and steal cars. There are numerous reports about this trend in the media and experts warn about the risks for drivers.

TikTok videos: “Kia Challenge” causes car theft

For two years, a TikTok video has caused numerous Kias and Hyundais to be stolen in several US cities. As Business Insider reports , car thefts in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have doubled since 2020. In St. Louis, Missouri, there was an increase of 157 percent from the second half of 2021 to the second half of 2022.

A report from Britain's Daily Mail documented a case in the UK where a man parked his car in public and posted a TikTok video about it. A few hours later his car was stolen. Similar incidents have also been reported in the United States, Canada and other countries.

The two manufacturers Kia and Hyundai are particularly affected. In Chicago this year, 50 percent of the stolen cars were manufactured by them. Strong increases were also noted in cities such as New York and Los Angeles. The trigger is the Kia Challenge, which first went viral in 2021 and gained attention again in mid-2022. The challenge demonstrates how easy it is to hijack certain Kia and Hyundai models.

Car insurance discontinued for Kia and Hyundai models

Due to a serious security flaw, Kia and Hyundai models from 2011 to 2021 were identified as particularly vulnerable in a TikTok video. The video showed how easy it is to hijack the cars by removing the steering column cover and connecting a USB cable. The vehicle can then be started without any problems.

Although TikTok removed the video every time it resurfaced, the damage could no longer be prevented. The impact is significant: Two major US auto insurance companies have stopped providing insurance for the affected models. Dozens of class-action lawsuits have also been filed against Kia and Hyundai to force them to fix the vulnerability or launch a recall.

Mechanical steering wheel locks from police departments

Kia has responded to the criminal trend and equipped the 2022 models with immobilizers, while Hyundai models have had immobilizers since November 2021. Although there is no recall from either manufacturer, they want to make steering wheel locks available to affected car owners through some police departments. So far, manufacturers have given no explanation as to why they have not installed basic immobilizers in their vehicles, even though these have been common since the 1990s and are mandatory in the EU.

TikTok measures may not be enough

Police are warning about this trend and asking drivers to be careful when leaving their cars in public parking lots and not to share personal information or locations on social media. TikTok has since taken steps to crack down on such activity by using automated systems to detect and remove suspicious content.

However, experts say these measures may not be enough to stop the trend. A report from Auto Express pointed out that many car thieves are already moving to other social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat to cover up their activities.

Sources:

BusinessInsider , Futurezone

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