LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A new scam is targeting drivers by sending them fake red light tickets.
They arrive with big bold letters that say “Final Notice,” with threats of a suspended license in red letters.
By all appearances, although upsetting, it looks like a standard $178 red light camera ticket.
Krizia Torres was upset when she got one the mail, but noticed the date listed was Feb 30.
At last check, there were only 28 days in February this year.
Her address was there but a Fort Lauderdale logo for something that happened in Lauderhill.
She called several departments, and no one had record of the violation.
Then she realized something was off.
“This doesn’t seem legit,” Torres said.
Lauderhill police are investigating, saying It appears that the scammers are taking the photos themselves outside of people’s homes and then editing them.
The website listed on the citation for people to pay appears to be inactive, but a digital screenshot from March 14 shows a payment center and options.
Police said if you make sure to take a close look at the ticket, there are several inconsistencies that can be found.
The alleged violation Torres received says the infraction happened at Commercial and Pine Island in Lauderhill, but the ticket has Fort Lauderdale badges.
Torres said this was a wakeup call and she hopes that despite appearances, no one falls for the scam and pays.
Police are trying to figure out if the scam was mailed or if the fake tickets were dropped off individually in mail boxes. If the scammers used the U.S. Postal Service, they can launch a much larger investigation.