The DSA has launched a campaign to unmask driving theory and practical test cheats amid the increasing number of people ‘representing’ test applicants fraudulently.
Individuals fearing failure of the UK Driving Theory or Practical test are paying hundreds of pounds to members of criminal gangs to take the test on their behalf in order to obtain a driving a licence.
Case study
In one high profile case, exposed by the BBC, Guillaume De Vendrines, a man in his 30s, wore a latex mask to impersonate a 60-year-old candidate for whom he was trying to sit the written test all drivers must pass.
Mr De Vendrines, having been discovered, later appeared in court pleading guilty to an attempt to commit fraud and was subsequently fined £1,500 by Croydon magistrates.
A DSA spokesperson said: “The problem of impersonation when it comes to UK Driving Theory and Practical tests is rife and needs to be stamped out quickly. The potential dangers of having unqualified drivers on Britain’s roads does not bear thinking about. The gangs that participate in this ‘money-spinning’ endeavour will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.â€
Big money
The fraud investigation team at the DSA, which consists of 30 officers, estimates that people will pay anywhere between £800 and £1,600 for an impersonator to take a UK Driving Theory or Practical test on their behalf. In some cases these criminal gangs can take between 200 and 500 test before getting caught so the ‘business’ is lucrative.
In a statement from Andy Rice, the DSA’s Head of Fraud and Integrity, he said: “One of the first convictions involved an estimated £1m made in impersonations. Gangs ‘employ’ eight to 10 people with ‘different looks’ to match the learner’s provisional licence photograph.â€
Widespread
The problem of test cheats is not just restricted to privately owned vehicles; gangs also make money by representing individuals looking to obtain a taxi licence, HGV licence or a motorcycle licence.
In a further statement from Mr Rice, he called on the general public to be vigilant when it comes to driving test fraud and to be aware of unscrupulous ‘driving instructors’, saying: “The public can help to tackle fraud by ensuring driving instructors are registered with the DSA, which ensures they are competent and checked.â€
In terms of organised criminal gangs making money from driving test fraud, Mr Rice asserts that their criminal activity is often used to fund other, more serious, criminal activities such as gun and drug smuggling.
Mr Rice said: “To these gangs, obtaining money to cheat on driving tests is small to them. The proceeds are often used to fund much more serious criminal activity and those paying these people are often unaware that the money is used to buy guys or drugs that are then distributed on Britain’s streets.â€
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