Criminals prey on Victorian motorists by cloning their numberplates and racking up fines

CRIMINALS are preying on unsuspecting motorists, cloning their numberplates and racking up thousands worth of fines. See how the dodgy dealers are pulling off the low act and learn how to safeguard your plates.

Used car dealership owner Peter Savige has fallen victim to numberplate cloning and been issued thousands of dollars worth of fines. Picture: Mark Stewart

CRIMINALS are preying on unsuspecting motorists by cloning their numberplates and racking up thousands of dollars worth of fines.

With just a few clicks, the Herald Sun uncovered how tech-savvy criminals were able to duplicate Victorian numberplates for as little as $35 on Australian websites.

Identity-stealing offenders are logging on to sites such as Gumtree and CarSales.com.au, selecting a numberplate and car model at random and getting identical numberplates created.

The Herald Sun has also been told stores at Queen Victoria Market and the Caribbean Gardens make up numberplates without question.

A number of Victorians have fallen victim to the identity theft, including Hilton Motor Company owner Peter Savige, who was incorrectly fined almost $4000.

Mr Savige said he was shocked to find a criminal cloned the numberplates of one of his used cars. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Savige said he first noticed something suspicious in May when he received a CityLink toll fine.

“I didn’t recall the car being sold or driven when it was caught using the tolls,” Mr Savige said.

“We looked at our books and it hadn’t been moved from the dealership at all.”

The used car salesman said after the first fine a number of others started rolling in totalling a staggering $3879.

“I received fines on CityLink, EastLink, parking fines in the CBD and a red light infringement,” he said.

“Once the infringement notice came in, I looked at where it was knowing the car hadn’t moved from the yard at all and thought something wasn’t adding up.”

That’s when Mr Savige decided to investigate further and downloaded the road safety camera images.

“As soon as I saw the car and the numberplate, I knew something was seriously wrong,” he said.

“The numbers and letters were correct but the background colour, font and size was completely different.”

Mr Savige explained the numberplate on his Ford Falcon was a standard Victorian numberplate with blue font and a white background.

But the Ford caught running a red light had white font and a black background.

“It was clearly a different numberplate but just with the same rego ... they just cloned the numbers and letters,” Mr Savige said.

“I was so shocked to see it. Our Ford was sitting in the dealership but then I see the same plates running a red light.”

Mr Savige’s Ford Falcon with plate UYY990. Picture: Mark Stewart

An infringement camera photo of a different Ford with plates UYY990. The photo shows the car is a different colour, has different lights and a black/white plate as opposed to blue/white. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Savige said cloning numberplates was the easiest form of criminal activity.

“The crooks just go on to these websites with a numberplate they’ve seen on CarSales or Gumtree,” he said.

“There’s absolutely no difficulty in doing it and I know the problem is becoming worse and worse.”

VACC executive director Geoff Gwilym said criminals often target dealerships because the vehicles sit in the caryard for a period of time.

“Often the victims won’t know their plates have been cloned until the fines are sent out a few weeks after the offences,” he said.

“By that time, the offenders often rack up a number of fines or are involved in illegal activity and then bin the plates.”

He advised those selling their cars on websites to try and hide their numberplates or only display them to serious buyers.

“Car dealerships aren’t the only victims in this. If you’re going on holiday for a long period of time or park your car on the street, try to lock it up in a garage.”

Victoria Police said they were aware of the use of cloned numberplates.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Acting Sgt Melissa Seach said the various means by which a buyer can acquire and produce the plates forms part of the investigation.

“People using this method could face criminal offences as well as traffic offences under the Road Safety Act,” she said.

[e-mail]

@cassiezervos