A few months ago, my sister noticed that her front license plate was missing from their Acura. They just assumed it got loose and fell off. Well, over the holidays, we found out what really happened to that plate.

Lies, Fraud and Headaches

While my sister was on vacation, she got a call from her insurance company stating that a claim was made against their policy since an Acura with their license plate and VIN was reportedly in an accident. There was supposedly damage on the back of her car. My sister called me and I assured her that her car was in perfect condition. I let her know that her car has not even been turned on since they left and that it has always stayed behind the gate.

My sister's car

It's dirty by in perfect condition.

The fraud car

This is not my sister's car but it has her license plate.

Unraveling the mess

I had to take pictures to send to their insurance company. The insurance company told them to file a police report for the stolen license plate. After my sister returned from vacation, she was got two visits from the insurance investigators as well as two visits from the police. I also had to be interviewed by phone that my sister's car was never driven during the time they were out of town. I let them know that I had no need to drive her car because I had my own. Finally, she will eventually need to get new plates when they finalize that her car was indeed NOT in an accident.

A phone call + $6 investment = peace of mind

The lesson is that when you are missing a license plate, you need to immediately report it as lost or stolen with the police so if it's ever used in a fraud crime, they can stop it. It's also important to know that in many states, the front plate is legally required. In Texas, it only costs $6.00 at the local tax assessor's office. It's a hassle because the lines may be long but it's easy to do. No appointment necessary.

In conclusion

Be aware and stay safe! This saga is still ongoing but we see an end to it soon.