It started with a stack of EZ-Pass violations. One New Jersey driver opened their mail, only to find a series of toll charges they didn’t recognize. At first glance, the license plate number was familiar—it was their own. But something didn’t quite add up. The car in the photos didn’t look like theirs. The make, the model, and the color were all wrong. Yet, the plate number was a perfect match.
Confused, the driver took a closer look. “Doesn’t look it—it’s my plate, but the cars are different colors and makes,” they thought. It was a puzzling situation. To make matters stranger, both cars had come from the same dealership. The connection seemed odd, and the situation became even more unsettling.
The driver, feeling stuck and desperate, called the dealership. They hoped for some answers, but the dealership had no explanation for the mix-up. They were told that the license plate duplication wasn’t their fault.
The driver was left with more questions than answers, wondering how someone could get a car with the same plate. They carefully examined the photos again, checking for signs of tampering. But there were none. The plate was a perfect match, and the car, while clearly not theirs, had the exact same number on its license plate.
In disbelief, the driver said, “I already checked with the dealership about duplicated plates. It wasn’t a forgery—it was a perfect match.” Despite their efforts, they found themselves responsible for toll charges related to a phantom car. As strange as it seemed, this wasn’t an isolated incident.
The driver, frustrated and uncertain about what to do next, turned to a Facebook group for advice. They posted their story in the “NJ Turnpike & Garden State Parkway Commuters” group, hoping others might have experienced something similar. Little did they know, their post would spark a flood of similar stories from others who had fallen victim to the same scam.
“Same thing happened to me,” wrote Florence Massey Miranda, a commenter in the group. She explained that after her license plate was copied, she had to go to the police station to file a report. “It’s a nightmare,” said Paul Subacius, another group member. He added that the situation had escalated so much that he was forced to surrender his plates and get new ones. Even worse, toll charges had crossed into New York in his name.
Paul wasn’t the only one. As more comments flooded in, it became clear that plate duplication was happening more often than anyone realized. “I had to work with the Turnpike Authority to get reimbursed,” Paul wrote, “while I needed to file a criminal investigation report with the NJ State Police.” He, like many others, had been stuck fighting fraudulent toll charges.
Others shared similar frustrations. One commenter revealed that it took nearly a year to resolve $369 in bogus charges. The situation was becoming increasingly complicated, and many people were left scrambling for answers. The complexity of the scam had a long-lasting effect on many victims, as they had to navigate bureaucracy and legal channels just to clear their names.
For the original poster in the Facebook group, the situation had reached a breaking point. “My plates had to be reported as stolen,” they said. “So, I can’t drive my car until I get new plates.” As a result, the driver had to surrender their registration, stop using their car, and wait for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue new plates. The toll charges continued to pile up, and the driver was left with no way to fight back until the issue was resolved.
For those caught in this scam, it wasn’t just a matter of paying a few tolls. Reporting stolen plates, getting new ones, and dealing with toll authorities was a stressful ordeal. Many victims had to take time off work or make adjustments to their daily lives as they waited for their new plates to arrive.
The story serves as a warning to anyone who uses EZ-Pass or similar toll systems in New Jersey. While it’s easy to dismiss unexpected toll bills, it’s important to investigate the charges, especially if you don’t recognize the car in the photo. As the number of plate-copying incidents rises, it’s becoming more crucial to stay vigilant and check your toll charges regularly.
In New Jersey, this plate-copying scam is becoming a surprisingly common crime. As more and more drivers fall victim to the fraud, the authorities are facing mounting pressure to address the issue and protect drivers. If you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t simply ignore the toll bill. Look at the car in the photo closely. If it’s not your car, it could mean that your license plate has been copied, and you may be the latest victim of this troubling scam.
For those already caught up in the situation, the best course of action is to report the issue immediately. Contact your toll authority, file a report with the police, and work with the DMV to get new plates. It might take some time, but it’s important to act quickly to prevent further issues.
Ultimately, the rise in license plate duplication is a serious issue for New Jersey drivers. The problem has become a headache for many, and it’s clear that more needs to be done to address it. Until then, drivers are urged to be proactive and diligent about checking their toll charges.
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