To avoid paying fines and continue to multiply offenses with impunity, some crooks do not hesitate to steal license plates. This is called the doublet scam.
It has existed for several years and is growing in France: 22,000 motorists would have been victims in 2022, Auto Plus indicated on Thursday. The 40 million motorists association estimates that between 400,000 and one million road users would have been trapped.
How to protect yourself
Very often, criminals operate on the Internet. It is therefore advisable not to post photos on the Internet on which your license plate numbers can be read. This is the best way to protect yourself against this scam. Even if it is tempting, it is forbidden to hide your license plate when parking on public roads. It is illegal and punishable by a fine of 135 euros.
If crooks have unfortunately managed to steal your license plate, you do not have to pay the fines you receive. You must contest them and file a complaint against X. Your plate must then be registered in the stolen car file.
Seven years in prison
The National Agency for Secure Titles will then issue you with a new registration number and a new registration document. The process is free upon presentation of the receipt for filing the complaint.
According to the Service-public website, crooks specializing in doublet scams face a sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros. They can also be sanctioned by the withdrawal of six points on the driving license, the suspension of the driving license for up to three years, the total cancellation of the driving license with a ban on retaking it for up to three years, and the confiscation of the vehicle.
France
