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Blind grandma in Huntington, New York hit with $16k in toll fines due to fake plates


A fake New York license plate

She said scammers evading toll cameras with novelty plates from Amazon are a great source of stress lately.

Beda Koorey, a nearly blind and retired 75-year-old grandma, was sent thousands in toll violation notices from several states starting in December. All of the violations were from different cars from several states, with one thing in common: a novelty Star Trek USS Enterprise license plate they bought from the internet.

Koorey paid extra for a custom license plate when she bought her now-sold car and surrendered the plates when she and her car parted ways. She felt frustrated by people using convincing but fake plates matching her old plates to evade tolls, pinning her with the fee.

The retiree spent a large amount of time contesting each ticket she got from the fraudsters. But it became exhausting to see the combined total climb higher and higher.

“I have been dealing with these people every day on the phone, trying to tell these people, ‘It’s not me,’” she said.

Several of the bills went to collections, too, adding to the stress. When her story went live with News 12, she was just over $16,000 in debt.

Recently, her media attention has attracted lawyer Kenneth Mollins, who helped advocate for her to the several transportation agencies that had an account for her.

He said the congestion pricing kicking in inspired drivers to find creative ways to evade tolls to get into Manhattan and inspire shifty characters to start illegal businesses. The outlet discovered several online businesses selling and shipping custom plates to drivers.

“Since congestion pricing has started in New York, the amount of purchases of these types of plates by Long Islanders has skyrocketed,” he said. “Nobody can tell it’s fake by just looking at it!”

Mollins says it’s illegal to use any plate not sold and distributed by the DMV.

Mollins was able to clear the charges against Koorey in all states that sent her notices. However, Koorey is still concerned for the safety of others.

“It is dangerous,” she said. “It’s like identity fraud.”



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