Scam warning over offers to dodge speeding fines in Northamptonshire

Detectives have uncovered a con involving crooks offering to make speeding tickets issued by Northamptonshire Police 'go away'.

Officers from 19 forces tracked down 116 offences nationwide and made four arrests in connection with a probe into the scam.

More than 60 motorists who forked out large sums cash to take up the bogus offer are now being pursued for attempting to dodge speeding fines and points on their licence.

Northamptonshire Fraud Team's DC Eve Atkin said: “We have so far identified 116 offences across 19 police force areas and continue to investigate this case in order to pursue both the people responsible and the people paying for this service.

“When you are caught speeding, there is no way to make it go away.

"Paying for the services of fraudsters, who use the details of innocent members of the public, is a criminal offence — not only by the fraudster offering the service but also by the member of the public who uses those services.

"By paying for this service, you are perverting the course of justice, a crime which carries a sentence of imprisonment.

“If you are contacted by someone who is claiming to be able to make your speeding offence go away, please contact us so we can investigate.

Scammers take cash and complete a notice of intended prosecution using someone else’s details.

That completely innocent party is then given points on their licence they don’t deserve.

In one case, a man received a summons to court after his details were used fraudulently on a number of occasions creating a situation where he had so many points on his licence, he was due to be banned from driving.

■ Have you been targeted by these scammers? Report it to Northamptonshire Police by calling 101 or clicking www.northants.police.uk/ro, or call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040