New scam on Tel Aviv streets – how the duplicate license plate scheme works

Tel Aviv municipality is issuing fines for e-scooter rides that were actually made by fraudsters who forged license plates. Local resident Neria Bokobza received five tickets for violations he didn't commit. Camera footage shows a courier from the delivery service 'Volt' on a different model of e-bike. Officials refused to cancel the fines, demanding the scooter owner prove the fraud himself. Police closed the case after three days. A shadow business of creating duplicate plates is thriving in the city.

In Tel Aviv, a scandal is brewing over fines for e-scooter rides issued to innocent citizens due to forged license plates. Local resident Neria Bokobza received five tickets for riding on sidewalks in places he never visited. After reviewing street camera footage, he saw a courier from the delivery service 'Volt' on a different model of e-bike. However, officials refused to cancel the tickets, demanding the scooter owner prove the fraud himself. Police closed the case after three days due to the futility of the search. A shadow business of creating duplicates of others' plates is thriving in the city to avoid automatic blocks. The municipal fine-issuing system relies only on the numbers on the plate, ignoring the type of vehicle and the offender's appearance. The municipality stated that cases of forgery should be investigated by the police. Experts and citizens are outraged, as city authorities must implement an effective verification system. By continuing to send out bogus fines, the municipality is effectively becoming an accomplice to the fraud. Most victims are young people without money or legal knowledge.