In the wake of number plate clone scams victimising drivers, a car expert explains that many affected individuals are seeking refuge in personalised number plates to mitigate the issue.
Criminals often target vehicles that match their (often stolen) cars and proceed to clone the number plates. This strategy allows them to avoid suspicion during initial checks by officials, as the number plate appears to belong to the same model of the vehicle.
Unfortunately, this results in legitimate motorists facing fines or charges for a vehicle driven by someone else, bearing 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, reveals that around 20% of customers seeking a budget-friendly number plate have approached him after falling victim to number plate cloning.
Reghunters claims to be the UK’s most affordable number plate retailer, offering plates starting from £25 plus VAT and an £80 DVLA transfer fee.
Jon explains, “Customers often find it more convenient to purchase a cheap number plate from us, and they can use the new plate within hours of purchase. Our experienced staff handle all the registration transfer paperwork with the DVLA as long as the customer can provide their V5 certificate. From there, we transfer the new private registration plate onto the chosen vehicle, relieving the customer of their original cloned registration’s consequences.”
Jon empathises with the legitimate customers who have become victims of crime, stating that they are unjustly burdened with resolving the issue and covering the costs.
He adds, “It’s truly unfair; the customer shouldn’t be responsible for resolving the problem as they have fallen prey to a crime. However, many find it more cost-effective to purchase a new number plate and put an end to the issue, instead of spending hours on the phone and dealing with paperwork to convince the relevant authorities that the fines or charges were sent erroneously.”
By changing their registration plate, these victims avoid the repeated occurrence of this distressing issue, should the criminals persist in using their number plate and accrue more fines or charges.
Reghunters.co.uk boasts an extensive database of over 63 million private number plates for sale and operates from Blackpool, Lancashire.
The business provides an efficient online platform where customers can easily search for their desired number plate combinations, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
For victims of number plate clone scams seeking an affordable solution, Reghunters.co.uk presents a variety of best bargains to browse.
Jon and his team offer a free valuation service to customers who already own private plates, receiving around 250 requests daily.
For more information, visit Reghunters.co.uk or check out their Facebook page.
