How to catch a cloned plate scammer?
Discussion
So, to bring this thread up to date, a few weeks back I received a letter about my dear cloned plates friend stealing petrol while using my plates, and found out that the petrol station had cameras, so I made sure to get photos of Mr Cloned Plates - albeit wearing a face mask - sent to me, thinking I could march into a police station with them at a later stage.
However, it turns out that wasn’t needed, as the guy whose cloned plates were on the car when I tracked it down, received a letter from the police, stating:
“Our enquiries have resulted in us finding another vehicle bearing a duplicate of your vehicle’s number plate. This vehicle has now been recovered and is no longer in circulation.”
When they say “our”, I think they mean mine, since I alerted them to the car having been on at least two sets of cloned plates, the actual car’s VIN, lack of insurance and MOT, ULEZ fraud and current location, but I’m counting that as a team win!
So no doubt the evil
stinking rantallion has now stolen another person’s car and has cloned some other innocent person’s car. Fingers crossed they’ll be in jail soon. 
However, it turns out that wasn’t needed, as the guy whose cloned plates were on the car when I tracked it down, received a letter from the police, stating:
“Our enquiries have resulted in us finding another vehicle bearing a duplicate of your vehicle’s number plate. This vehicle has now been recovered and is no longer in circulation.”
When they say “our”, I think they mean mine, since I alerted them to the car having been on at least two sets of cloned plates, the actual car’s VIN, lack of insurance and MOT, ULEZ fraud and current location, but I’m counting that as a team win!
So no doubt the evil
stinking rantallion has now stolen another person’s car and has cloned some other innocent person’s car. Fingers crossed they’ll be in jail soon. RoVoFob said:
Yes. I’ve given everything from the location of the car to the VIN, my cloned plate, the second cloned plate I’m aware of, said I have photos etc. etc. etc. The response is absolute crap.
“The use of cloned plates is not currently a criminal offence, however, vehicles will be circulated on the Police data base to allow officers to stop vehicles matching the registration of the cloned vehicle to investigate if the vehicle is legitimate.”
So, basically might as well SORN all your cars, stick some cloned plates on and relax…
It may not be an arrestable offence but it is certainly a criminal offence. “The use of cloned plates is not currently a criminal offence, however, vehicles will be circulated on the Police data base to allow officers to stop vehicles matching the registration of the cloned vehicle to investigate if the vehicle is legitimate.”
So, basically might as well SORN all your cars, stick some cloned plates on and relax…
RoVoFob said:
So, to bring this thread up to date, a few weeks back I received a letter about my dear cloned plates friend stealing petrol while using my plates, and found out that the petrol station had cameras, so I made sure to get photos of Mr Cloned Plates - albeit wearing a face mask - sent to me, thinking I could march into a police station with them at a later stage.
However, it turns out that wasn’t needed, as the guy whose cloned plates were on the car when I tracked it down, received a letter from the police, stating:
“Our enquiries have resulted in us finding another vehicle bearing a duplicate of your vehicle’s number plate. This vehicle has now been recovered and is no longer in circulation.”
When they say “our”, I think they mean mine, since I alerted them to the car having been on at least two sets of cloned plates, the actual car’s VIN, lack of insurance and MOT, ULEZ fraud and current location, but I’m counting that as a team win!
So no doubt the evil stinking rantallion has now stolen another person’s car and has cloned some other innocent person’s car. Fingers crossed they’ll be in jail soon.
Excellent work OP. And a good result. I had wondered how this would turn out. However, it turns out that wasn’t needed, as the guy whose cloned plates were on the car when I tracked it down, received a letter from the police, stating:
“Our enquiries have resulted in us finding another vehicle bearing a duplicate of your vehicle’s number plate. This vehicle has now been recovered and is no longer in circulation.”
When they say “our”, I think they mean mine, since I alerted them to the car having been on at least two sets of cloned plates, the actual car’s VIN, lack of insurance and MOT, ULEZ fraud and current location, but I’m counting that as a team win!
So no doubt the evil
stinking rantallion has now stolen another person’s car and has cloned some other innocent person’s car. Fingers crossed they’ll be in jail soon. My car is currently cloned, and I have received 4 x Penalty Charge Notices for bus lane contraventions. I have successfully appealed the first one, and awaiting appeal outcomes for the remainder.
As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
The Gauge said:
My car is currently cloned, and I have received 4 x Penalty Charge Notices for bus lane contraventions. I have successfully appealed the first one, and awaiting appeal outcomes for the remainder.
As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
Not sure how they would ever know anything about the owner of the new plate since the old one would officially then not be registered to anyone.As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
The Gauge said:
My car is currently cloned, and I have received 4 x Penalty Charge Notices for bus lane contraventions. I have successfully appealed the first one, and awaiting appeal outcomes for the remainder.
As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
One side of me says why should you have too - the other side says slinging a vanity plate on teh car means that the cloned plate is now no longer "Taxed, Insured, MOT'd and doesn't exist on DVLA/PNC databases" As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
So the likelyhood of the scrote that's cloned your plate getting a tug would increase....... (by how much I don't know but it would make me feel better even if it cost me £250 for a cheap plate from DVLA)
Edited to add
Christ cheapest s
t (sorry cherished) plate from DVLA these days is £250Edited by B'stard Child on Friday 26th April 14:36
They may still contact you on the pretence that you have somehow forgotten to put the new private plates on the car (the original plates history is still linked to the vehicle, so they can be put back on later), but you will no longer have to wait for someone to agree it wasn’t your car.
For £250, it’s worth it and the plate is resell able when you are done with the car.
For £250, it’s worth it and the plate is resell able when you are done with the car.
B'stard Child said:
One side of me says why should you have too - the other side says slinging a vanity plate on teh car means that the cloned plate is now no longer "Taxed, Insured, MOT'd and doesn't exist on DVLA/PNC databases"
The DVLA inform the police of the change of details and class it as a cherished transfer, the police then update the Police National Computer linking to the new plate. So I'm not sure that changing plates will help me, as my old plate simply directs the DVLA etc to my new one. So whilst it might make my appeals easier, it probably wont stop me receiving the fines.If you change the plate, any new offences for the old plate would not link to your car as it doesn't carry that plate, surely?
There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
MrBen.911 said:
If you change the plate, any new offences for the old plate would not link to your car as it doesn't carry that plate, surely?
There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
Thanks, looks like I can do it here..There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
https://www.personalisedvehicleregistration.servic...
This thread reminds me of a car I purchased from Copart a few years ago that had been used for bilking.
The car was delivered on a set of plates that didn't belong to the car, in the boot were about 7 sets of plates, all corresponding to a red BMW 1 series'.
Took me a while to figure out what the actual registration of the car should have been, which wasnt any of the plates the car came with!
The car was delivered on a set of plates that didn't belong to the car, in the boot were about 7 sets of plates, all corresponding to a red BMW 1 series'.
Took me a while to figure out what the actual registration of the car should have been, which wasnt any of the plates the car came with!
The Gauge said:
B'stard Child said:
One side of me says why should you have too - the other side says slinging a vanity plate on teh car means that the cloned plate is now no longer "Taxed, Insured, MOT'd and doesn't exist on DVLA/PNC databases"
The DVLA inform the police of the change of details and class it as a cherished transfer, the police then update the Police National Computer linking to the new plate. So I'm not sure that changing plates will help me, as my old plate simply directs the DVLA etc to my new one. So whilst it might make my appeals easier, it probably wont stop me receiving the fines.I’m sure that DVLA and the police may well be able to link the reg change but from a PNC and a vehicle enquiry check initiated from a local authority perspective you old plate will come back no trace unless further investigations are requested
As a result cloner will probably move onto a different plate (if not stopped in the meantime) Currently they are pretty unlikely to get pulled over unless the get caught in a bus lane - their vehicle shows as taxed, insured and mot’d so no flags at all to drive a stop
The Gauge said:
MrBen.911 said:
If you change the plate, any new offences for the old plate would not link to your car as it doesn't carry that plate, surely?
There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
Thanks, looks like I can do it here..There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
https://www.personalisedvehicleregistration.servic...
B'stard Child said:
The Gauge said:
MrBen.911 said:
If you change the plate, any new offences for the old plate would not link to your car as it doesn't carry that plate, surely?
There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
Thanks, looks like I can do it here..There's no need to buy a new plate, just put the current one on retention, and DVLA will automatically issue you a new number. That said, that costs £80, and I would think if you report the issue to DVLA, they may be able to issue you a new plate without the £80 fee.
https://www.personalisedvehicleregistration.servic...
Can't think of any other way of preventing the PCN's coming through to me, even of I write to my local council it wont stop other councils sending them, plus they could be committing drive offs at petrol stations etc.
The Gauge said:
My car is currently cloned, and I have received 4 x Penalty Charge Notices for bus lane contraventions. I have successfully appealed the first one, and awaiting appeal outcomes for the remainder.
As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
Have you reported this to the police and got a crime reference number? Do that and speak to the DVLA. There’s no reason for you to shell out for a new number plate just due to someone else’s bad behaviour.As this will probably go on forever, with me getting more and more PCN's which I'll have to keep appealing, would getting a private number plate help stop me getting them? The offender will still be triggering camera using my old number plates, so would the council simply direct the PCN's to the keeper of the new number plate? So I'd still receive them?
Collate the information used for the first successful appeal, copy and paste for the others and provide any extra information you can find along the way. Gets easier and easier to appeal things once authorities can see a string of appeals/evidence that the car is cloned.
RoVoFob said:
Have you reported this to the police and got a crime reference number? Do that and speak to the DVLA. There’s no reason for you to shell out for a new number plate just due to someone else’s bad behaviour.
Collate the information used for the first successful appeal, copy and paste for the others and provide any extra information you can find along the way. Gets easier and easier to appeal things once authorities can see a string of appeals/evidence that the car is cloned.
Yes, that's already been done. I have a police incident number and I have sent a letter to the DVLA.Collate the information used for the first successful appeal, copy and paste for the others and provide any extra information you can find along the way. Gets easier and easier to appeal things once authorities can see a string of appeals/evidence that the car is cloned.
I get your point about not shelling out for a new reg number, but i'm likely to keep receiving more and more PCN's etc. Whilst they are easy to appeal, the risk is my insurance company believing I've been involved in an RTC, or my car being involved in crimes, third parties like Parking Eye sending those parking fines, ULEZ offences...etc. I'd just rather not risk stuff like that.
The Gauge said:
Yes, that's already been done. I have a police incident number and I have sent a letter to the DVLA.
I get your point about not shelling out for a new reg number, but i'm likely to keep receiving more and more PCN's etc. Whilst they are easy to appeal, the risk is my insurance company believing I've been involved in an RTC, or my car being involved in crimes, third parties like Parking Eye sending those parking fines, ULEZ offences...etc. I'd just rather not risk stuff like that.
It’s good that you’ve got the police incident number and the DVLA are aware. That’s the most important bit.I get your point about not shelling out for a new reg number, but i'm likely to keep receiving more and more PCN's etc. Whilst they are easy to appeal, the risk is my insurance company believing I've been involved in an RTC, or my car being involved in crimes, third parties like Parking Eye sending those parking fines, ULEZ offences...etc. I'd just rather not risk stuff like that.
This kind of stuff can be sorted. I know it’s a pain but you really, really, really shouldn’t have to go to any expense to resolve this. You have done nothing wrong. If you’ve logged all this stuff and have a paper trail showing the car’s been cloned you shouldn’t be charged with anything you haven’t done.
How far away from you have the offences taken place? Are there any physical differences between your car and the criminal’s one pictured? Is there any way of tracking the problem car down if the crimes have taken place in a localised area/linking these details to the police report to make this stuff simpler for them to sort out? All of these should help.
The scumbag who cloned my plates also stole £80’s worth of diesel and it took me about a minute on the phone to get that struck off, once I told them the car was cloned and - I think - gave them the crime reference number. I know companies like Parking Eye are horrible to deal with - years ago they falsely accused me of spending five hours in a service station car park when I spent 10 mins there in the morning and 10 mins in the afternoon - but a stern email copying in the local MP and Which? got them off my back.
I know I sound like I’m on a crusade, but criminals only get away with stuff like this because we let them. Don’t let them; you’ve done nothing wrong and should have nothing to fear.
I take your point, but I phoned the DVLA this morning who said if I wrote to them requesting a new registration number they might issue one free of charge, however it will take 4-6 weeks for them to do this. In the meantime I’ll be getting more and more fines through the post.
So I went online to the link I posted earlier, paid my £80 and instantly received a certificate showing my new reg number. I’ll take that to the car parts shop and get some new plates this weekend
So I went online to the link I posted earlier, paid my £80 and instantly received a certificate showing my new reg number. I’ll take that to the car parts shop and get some new plates this weekend
The Gauge said:
I take your point, but I phoned the DVLA this morning who said if I wrote to them requesting a new registration number they might issue one free of charge, however it will take 4-6 weeks for them to do this. In the meantime I’ll be getting more and more fines through the post.
So I went online to the link I posted earlier, paid my £80 and instantly received a certificate showing my new reg number. I’ll take that to the car parts shop and get some new plates this weekend
It's crazy isn't it? £80 for a new reg, £25-35 for a new set of plates, possibly a £25-£50 charge by some Insurers to change the registration and hours of your time in doing the changes and fending off the traffic offences.So I went online to the link I posted earlier, paid my £80 and instantly received a certificate showing my new reg number. I’ll take that to the car parts shop and get some new plates this weekend
You would think that this would be a top priority for Police forces especially when the original OP had the home location of the cloned car and that there would be many other offences linked to it - no insurance, no VED, no MOT - and highly likely to be other forms of criminal activity.
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