This has happened since the dawn of the auto industry.
There was a thread on a old Ford truck forum where son was restoring Dad’s truck that Dad purchased new.
It had always been a mystery why the truck took so long to get delivery of since, although it was ordered, it wasn’t really that unique.
When it was stripped to metal, several nicely repaired bullet holes were found on one side. It was theorized that it was likely hit while on the train in route to the dealer. Another reason that auto transport cars now are almost solid sided.
It’s not as bad as it used to be. In the ‘50s, even before I could drive, my dad schooled me in the art of buying a used car, something he loved to do. Back before odometer fraud was a felony, you had to check the wear on the brake pedal rubber to see if it was in line with the claimed mileage. You would check the coolant water for oatmeal or whatever poured in to plug a leak. You would check the transmission and differential oil for sawdust added to quiet noisy gears. There were dozens of other tells from the old days. Fraudsters are no longer that bold, but you still need to check for rust and misalignment from an undisclosed wreck, and the oil and radiator fluid reveal as much as the blood tests my doctor gives me.
Thanks to my dad, I buy only used cars, and have always done well.