How to catch a cloned plate scammer?
Discussion
daytona111r said:
Well done OP on locating the car. I find it amusing, however, all the comments along the lines of “I wouldn’t be so self restrained, I would have burnt the f
ker’s car!” But how many people would actually do anything at all? As tempting as it would be to do something, in this day and age with CCTV everywhere etc before you know it you could be at the other end of fighting a criminal charge, you’re job at risk, etc. And perpetrators are often the biggest scum when turning the tables and then playing victim.
Absolutely. No way was I going to open myself up to charges of any kind. The law might not take cloning plates that seriously, but I’m sure criminal damage is a different thing. Was also concerned enough stopping by the car very briefly to get photos of the car and VIN, let alone hanging around any longer than that. Who knows if someone would have appeared with a baseball bat…criminals aren’t known for their moderation!ker’s car!” But how many people would actually do anything at all? As tempting as it would be to do something, in this day and age with CCTV everywhere etc before you know it you could be at the other end of fighting a criminal charge, you’re job at risk, etc. And perpetrators are often the biggest scum when turning the tables and then playing victim. Edited by daytona111r on Monday 29th April 15:39
braddo said:
GeneralBanter said:
r3g said:
This ^. If I'm looking to buy a car and the reg is blanked out then I'll ignore it and move onto the ads where they are visible. I'm certainly not going to waste time opening the ad to read the description on the remote chance the reg has been typed out. Only an idiot seller would refuse to give you the reg.
This. I get even more pissed off when asking what the reg is and wasting even more time when the seller responds 'y do u want to no m8?'When I sell, my ads always include service history details, I highlight advisory-free MOTs, key maintenance work carried out, optional extras fitted and pretty decent pics. I’d hope potential buyers would get in touch for the plate if they were serious, though I think in future I’ll include the registration in the text and explain that I’ve done that to reduce the chance of having my plates cloned again.
RoVoFob said:
daytona111r said:
Well done OP on locating the car. I find it amusing, however, all the comments along the lines of “I wouldn’t be so self restrained, I would have burnt the fker’s car!” But how many people would actually do anything at all? As tempting as it would be to do something, in this day and age with CCTV everywhere etc before you know it you could be at the other end of fighting a criminal charge, you’re job at risk, etc. And perpetrators are often the biggest scum when turning the tables and then playing victim.
Absolutely. No way was I going to open myself up to charges of any kind. The law might not take cloning plates that seriously, but I’m sure criminal damage is a different thing. Was also concerned enough stopping by the car very briefly to get photos of the car and VIN, let alone hanging around any longer than that. Who knows if someone would have appeared with a baseball bat…criminals aren’t known for their moderation!ker’s car!” But how many people would actually do anything at all? As tempting as it would be to do something, in this day and age with CCTV everywhere etc before you know it you could be at the other end of fighting a criminal charge, you’re job at risk, etc. And perpetrators are often the biggest scum when turning the tables and then playing victim. Edited by daytona111r on Monday 29th April 15:39
The Gauge said:
Had two more of my PCN's cancelled by the council. Just two more remain in the appeals process, unless I'm due to receive some more?
How much of your own time do you think it will have taken for 5 appeals?As annoying as it is, £80 to change the reg seems worthwhile to limit the damage!
The Gauge said:
Had two more of my PCN's cancelled by the council. Just two more remain in the appeals process, unless I'm due to receive some more?
Any scope for tracking down where the car is (if PCNs are from a small area) or enabling the police to do so? I imagine the simpler the task is for the police, the more likely they are to get the car off the road/charge the cloners…GeneralBanter said:
Have I missed something or have the Police done zilch, and OP didn't push to get the scrotes collar felt or alternatively dump half a pint of brake fluid on his roof?
The Gauge is a copper, which makes it quite funny that he's getting endless PCNs but is apparently unable to do anything about it.Fady said:
GeneralBanter said:
Have I missed something or have the Police done zilch, and OP didn't push to get the scrotes collar felt or alternatively dump half a pint of brake fluid on his roof?
Why would he do the latter? That's vandalism. Some PHers live in an imaginary world.
r3g said:
GeneralBanter said:
Have I missed something or have the Police done zilch, and OP didn't push to get the scrotes collar felt or alternatively dump half a pint of brake fluid on his roof?
The Gauge is a copper, which makes it quite funny that he's getting endless PCNs but is apparently unable to do anything about it.Plus if I was a copper, there is no way in this world I'd be able to take action against the cars using my number plates as that could be classed as doing so for a personal gain and abuse of position, and I'd risk getting sacked. Even using their computer (PNC) would be data breach and breach of policy. The most I could do is report it to them, at which point my involvement would end. In any case, unless the car is seen by police or activates a camera then there's not really a lot anyone can realistically do.
Edited by The Gauge on Friday 3rd May 18:24
RoVoFob said:
Any scope for tracking down where the car is (if PCNs are from a small area) or enabling the police to do so? I imagine the simpler the task is for the police, the more likely they are to get the car off the road/charge the cloners…
Not really as the PCN's are in the city centre, so the car could live anywhere. However the plates have been used on two separate cars so even if the police take a car off the road then they can make new plates and put on other cars, which is why I've now changed my reg number.braddo said:
How much of your own time do you think it will have taken for 5 appeals?
As annoying as it is, £80 to change the reg seems worthwhile to limit the damage!
The appeal only takes a few minutes online, and is quite simple. I just copy in the text from my previous appeal etc.As annoying as it is, £80 to change the reg seems worthwhile to limit the damage!
But I've had to sort out getting a new reg number, new plates, ringing insurance etc. The sting is it costing me £140 so far, and I've done nothing wrong, but that money should as you say be money well spent to save potentially greater heartache.
Edited by The Gauge on Friday 3rd May 18:18
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