Car owners warned of new scam which could see them being hit with hefty fines
UK drivers are being warned about a sophisticated new scam that could result in hefty fines for crimes they never committed.
Number plate cloning has become a fast-growing criminal enterprise, with thieves systematically scanning social media posts, online marketplaces, and car sale listings to steal registration details from innocent motorists' photos.
Criminals create duplicate number plates using clear images found online, then fit them to similar vehicles used in illegal activities. This leaves unsuspecting car owners facing speeding fines, congestion charge penalties, or even police inquiries for offences committed hundreds of miles away.
Most disturbingly, many victims only discover they've been targeted when multiple penalty notices start arriving for locations they've never visited. The DVLA and police forces have now issued official warnings acknowledging the reality and explosive growth of this digital-age crime.
Transport for London alone reported a mind-boggling 631% increase in cancelled fines due to proven cases of plate cloning, demonstrating how widespread this criminal activity has become.
Simple PCP Claims car finance expert Tom Riley, said: "Blurring your reg plate might seem paranoid but it's now basic digital hygiene.
"Criminals can buy plate-making equipment online for less than £50 and have your cloned plates ready within hours of spotting your Instagram post."
The theft process is disturbingly simple. Criminals use readily available software to scan through thousands of social media images, automatically detecting and harvesting clear registration plate details.
These are then fed into illegal plate-making operations that can produce convincing duplicates in minutes.
Official advice now includes covering or blurring registration plates as a standard safety precaution when posting any vehicle images online.
Fortunately, protecting yourself from plate cloning is straightforward and costs nothing. The most effective defence is simply blurring or covering your registration plate whenever you share car photos online - whether on social media feeds, selling platforms, or car enthusiast groups.
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If you do receive unexpected fines or correspondence relating to offences you didn't commit, act immediately. Report the incident to both the police and DVLA, providing evidence of your whereabouts and seeking cancellation of any wrongful charges. Many victims successfully get fraudulent penalties cancelled when they can prove cloning.
Tom added: "There are thousands of documented cases where innocent drivers receive penalties for crimes they never committed. The irony is that a two-second blur tool could have prevented legal headaches and stress."
Motorists were also recently urged to follow smart driving advice, which could result in them using less fuel while on the road. According to experts, drivers could save cash at the petrol pump by simply doing one thing.
All motorists have to do is take their foot off the accelerator. The advice centres around a built-in feature present in most modern petrol and diesel cars, and it could save drivers significantly when fuelling up.
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