A DRIVER was left shocked when her insurance company accused her of a crash over 280 miles away – in a city she’d never been to.
Shelli Birkett, from Herne Bay, Kent, was caught in a nightmare number plate cloning scam, a sneaky crime sweeping the nation.
She was horrified to learn that her car registration had been linked to an accident in Liverpool, even though she was at home in Kent at the time.
“I had to fight to prove it wasn’t me,” Shelli said, calling the experience “scary.”
She is far from alone.
Victims of number plate fraud, where criminals steal or copy vehicle registration plates, are becoming more common.
These cloned plates are often used to hide the identity of stolen cars or to commit crimes like evading tolls or fuel theft.
In Shelli’s case, the criminals not only cloned her plate but even used it on a car of the same make.
“It was a nightmare,” she explained. “I had to prove I was in Herne Bay that day. I used Google locations and posted videos from my work to show where I was.”
Unfortunately, the situation didn’t end there.
Shelli received threatening letters from lawyers representing the third party involved in the crash, demanding settlement money, even after the case was resolved in her favour.
“I told them it wasn’t me, but they asked me to prove where I was and send photos of my car’s condition while they continued their investigation,” she explained.
“Then I remembered I could check my Google location, and fortunately, I was in Herne Bay that day. I also posted some videos on my business social media page showing I was at work.”
Ms Birkett revealed that not only had her number plate been cloned, but it had also been placed on a car of the same make.
The RAC has warned that criminals often steal or copy registration plates, either by physically taking them or using online images, such as those found on car sales websites.
Recently, Amazon announced it would ban the sale of car number plates on its platform after a BBC investigation uncovered illegal activity.
The problem is growing.
In Kent, reports of number plate thefts have risen by 37% in the past four years.
From 815 cases in 2020, the number soared to 1,120 last year.
Similarly, in London, a 64% increase in the number of fines cancelled due to cloned plates was reported over three years.
Ch Supt Rob Marsh from Kent Police highlighted that stolen or cloned plates are often used to commit other crimes, from avoiding tolls to making off without paying for fuel.
He noted that the rise in living costs could be driving people toward these crimes.
The Home Office is taking action, collaborating with the police and the DVLA to combat number plate fraud, as part of a new Road Safety Strategy aimed at reducing road deaths and preventing related crime.
For Shelli, the ordeal is a reminder of the dangers lurking in everyday life. “I never imagined something like this could happen to me,” she said.
“But now I know how easy it is for criminals to steal your identity, and I want others to be aware before it happens to them.”
