Gardaí outsmart scammer in hilarious WhatsApp sting
Gardaí have shared a hilarious text exchange with a scammer who was flogging fake driving licences.
While there is a seemingly never ending wait for the driving test, and once you eventually get one you still might not even pass your test and get the elusive driver's licence. However, some people have been chancing trying to purchase licences to fool Gardaí.
After catching wind of the scams, Gardaí in Kilkenny reached out with one of the scammers via WhatsApp under the guise of looking to buy one of the fakes after they were 'disqualified' from driving. Gardaí have shared a hilarious text exchange with a scammer who was flogging fake driver's licences. Pic: Shutterstock
The Garda told the scammer that they were suspended from driving and would need a licence, and that they'd need it by the end of the month — with the scammer telling the guard that it would cost about €680.
The scammer then shared what the fake licence would look like, before the guard eventually sent on a pic of their work ID, with Gardaí sharing on social media that not only do they not pass muster, but you'd be on the hook for a lot more than driving offences should you be caught handing it to them.
'Not worth the plastic it's printed on,' Gardaí wrote. 'While having a look around at posts and comments online, Gardaí in Kilkenny recently came across a chap that was offering fake Driving Licences that he reckoned would pass Garda scrutiny, and for just the small fee of €680. So we decided to check it out for ourselves.'
'For what it's worth, the sample licences he sent us didn't pass our inspection. Even those back at the station that weren't up to speed on our sting knew them to be fake,' they continued.
'If you did take the chance and present us with one of these at a checkpoint or on the roadside – it wouldn't just be the alleged road traffic offences that we would be pursuing but fraud offences too.'
The Gardaí also explained how their mobile devices for scanning licences works, saying 'Most of you will have seen these in use but every Garda has an android device that allows them to scan a car's registration to see the owner/driver details such as tax, NCT and insurance.' Pic: Shutterstock
'We can also instantly check a Driving Licence or if the person even has one at all. It's important to point out too that more and more of our fleet are fitted with an Automated Number Plate Recognition System.
'If you are illegally driving using a fake licence, it's only a matter of time before you're detected if not by us, our technology.'
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