According to a car expert, drivers who have fallen prey to number plate clone scams have been resorting to personalised number plates for assistance.
Criminals often target vehicles of the same make and model as their (often stolen) cars and choose to clone their number plates. This tactic aims to evade suspicion during initial checks since the number plate suggests it belongs to the same vehicle model.
However, this practice can lead to legitimate motorists receiving fines or charges for offenses committed by someone else using the same cloned number plates.
The DVLA states, “If you are being contacted about fines or charges which you are not responsible for because someone else is using the registration number for your vehicle, your vehicle might have been cloned. Cloning involves copying the identity of a similar (non-stolen) vehicle already on the road. Criminals find an exact make, model, and color of the car they have stolen, then use the same registration number on their stolen vehicle to make it look legal. If you suspect your vehicle has been cloned, the following points will help you avoid becoming a victim of further crime.”
Jon Kirkbright, sales director at Reghunters.co.uk, estimates that around 20% of customers seeking to buy affordable number plates have approached him after experiencing their license plates being cloned.
Reghunters claims to be the UK’s most economical number plate retailer, offering plates starting from as low as £25 plus VAT and an £80 DVLA transfer fee.
Jon stated, “Customers often find it simpler to purchase a cheap number plate from us, and they can start using the new plate within hours of purchase. Our experienced staff can handle all the registration transfer paperwork with the DVLA, provided the customer can provide their V5 certificate. From here, we can transfer the new private registration plate onto the chosen vehicle, freeing the customer from the repercussions of their original cloned registration.”
Jon acknowledges that these legitimate customers are victims of a crime and, despite this, they have to bear the cost of the solution themselves.
He added, “It’s truly unfair; the burden shouldn’t be on the customer to resolve the issue since they’ve been victims of a crime. However, many find it much more cost-effective to acquire a new number plate and put an end to the issue, rather than spending hours on the phone and completing paperwork to convince relevant authorities that the fines or charges were mistakenly sent to them. By changing their registration plate, they can avoid facing this issue repeatedly.”
Reghunters.co.uk boasts the largest database of private number plates, with over 63 million plates available for sale. The business, headquartered in Blackpool, Lancashire, operates online, offering customers an efficient website to search for their desired number plate combinations, complete with clear pricing and no hidden fees.
Victims of number plate clone scams may be searching for the most budget-friendly option, and they can easily browse the best deals available on the platform.
Jon and his team also provide a free valuation service to customers who already own private plates, with approximately 250 requests being made each day.
For more information, please visit Reghunters.co.uk or their Facebook page, here.
