Traffic light camera scam steals your identity

[formercia]

This new scam will have you slamming on the brakes, not to mention seeing red.

By Jessica Citizen | Tecca – 18 hours ago

Traffic light cameras are annoying at the best of times, but while some people manage to escape the fines, most of us simply pay up without thinking about it or questioning whether the charge is valid. Tricky scammers are taking advantage of that lazy human tendency, making a handful of money and stealing identities in the process.

Scare tactics
The scam is simple. A no-good type picks your phone number at random and, once you answer, tells you that you have an overdue red light camera fine. The only way to avoid a significant late fee, a court case, or even jail time is to pay the bill right then and there over the phone. If you don't pay up, you're threatened with a warrant for your arrest.

Of course, there was no camera, no photograph, and no overdue bill. The scammer really has no ability to arrest you, fine you, or take you to court.

--snip--

After convincing you to pay the fraudulent fine, the "traffic cop" will ask for your credit card information, including the security code. That's required information for paying any bill from a remote location. Alarm bells should start ringing as the questions continue, though, as the caller asks for your billing address, date of birth and Social Security number. Surely, the police would have some — if not all — of this information on file. They have your license plate in the photo from the red light camera, after all.

--snip--

More at the link:

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/traffic-light-camera-scam-steals-your-identity.html

[Cirque du So-What]

1. As a society, we've been conditioned

to accept 'authority' unquestioningly - a trend that accelerated in the aftermath of 9/11.

[RZM]

2. I've witnessed similar scams in action

If somebody calls you and claims you've done something wrong, don't believe them. It's almost certainly an identity theft scam. Somebody I know was taken in by something very similar.

I actually just received my first red light ticket ($95 fine!) the other day. It came in the mail and included pictures of my plates. When I paid online, I could watch the video clip of me running the red light. Had I received a phone call about it, I would have told them to fuck themselves and then immediately called the cops to report the scam.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. In many states the red light cams are scams themselves

Next time check into you options to ignore such bill. They are not legitimate traffic citations.

[RZM]

6. I did think about that

There was an option to contest it. I figured the quickest and easiest thing to do would be to just pay it and get it over with. Next time I will definitely look into contesting it. Of course, hopefully there won't be a next time :)

[saras]

14. They're sure legitimate when they jail you for not paying them.

But yes, they are often scams. Typically they set the yellow light to an extra-short time where there's a traffic cam, often short enough that even skilled drivers (like police officers) regularly run them because there simply is not enough time to slow a car safely, or a truck at all, before the light turns red.

A reasonable test of a yellow light is a fully loaded semi, driving at the legal speed limit. If the yellow light doesn't give them enough time to stop safely, then it's too short, and traffic safety is playing a backseat to some other values, typically just stealing money.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. It depends somewhat from state to state, but in many, the cameras are barely legal

Los Angeles TV did an expose on that recently. People were pissed at that they did not have to acknowledge it.

I ride a motorcycle and it is not possible to get a picture of my face or license. I tend not to worry about it much.

[beac]

7. I never, never, never give my cc infomation to anyone who calls ME--

even charities/candidates that I have donated to before.

If someone calls me wanting a donation or payment of any kind, I always ask for a call back number or website where I can put in my information. If they can't provide this, it's 99% certain its a scam (or an organization so disorganized that they wouldn't spend a donation wisely.)

You should NEVER give out ANY information to someone that calls you, especially credit card or bank info.

[demosincebirth]

3. How does the traffic light camera steal your identity?

[formercia]

5. Read the article

The perps ask you for your credit card information. Your name comes out of the phone book.

[demosincebirth]

8. I did, Still don't see what the camera has to do with it. The camera only

interacts with you, only, if you run a red light. The title is very misleading. Scamers randomly get your number not because of the camera or that you ran a red light.

[thelordofhell]

9. I will happily explain the syntax of the headline to you

If you just e-mail me your credit card information and social security number.

[formercia]

11. I like that

:rofl:

[immoderate]

10. It's the scam's name. Scams are often named for imaginary components.

Does one need an oil well to pull the oil well scam? :shrug:

--imm

[jberryhill]

12. The same way that Nigerian widows do

There *is* no Nigerian widow in the Nigerian widow scam.

That's the point.

Here, though, there are two different traffic light camera scams.

One of them is described in the OP.

In the other one, a local government sets up cameras at traffic lights. Lol.

[formercia]

13. Once apon a Scam

:rofl: