Jason Sung thought it was all fun and games when he bought a custom license plate "5.0 GPA" for his white Ford Mustang.
"I’m not a good student, or I don’t have a good grade, but I just thought it’s a funny plate," Sung told ABC13 News.
"I really liked it."
But what started as a lighthearted joke turned into a frustrating financial headache.
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Sung noticed his Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) account auto-replenished unexpectedly, even though he rarely uses toll roads. Diving deeper into his account, Sung was shocked to find dozens of toll charges, many racked up during a period when he was out of the country and his white Ford Mustang was parked safely in his garage.
Someone had a duplicate plate, down to the exact phrase, and had slapped it on a black Ford Mustang.
Toll charges “pretty much every day”
Sung found toll charges dating back to at least January that he knows he is not responsible for.
"It’s just pretty much every day," he said.
When he contacted HCTRA for answers, he said the toll authority checked transaction photos. A representative asked him if his vehicle was black with yellow lightning bolts on the back, but Sung’s response was immediate: “No, my car is completely white.”
The photo HCTRA sent him showed a different vehicle altogether, but it had the same "5.0 GPA" license plate.
"Even a person who doesn’t even have a driver’s license can tell you that’s not a Texas plate," Sung said.
The photo included the other driver’s Instagram handle. ABC13 tracked down the individual behind the duplicate plate via social media.
The driver admitted that the plate was a fake, ordered online from Arizona. He told reporters that he had no idea the plate phrase was officially registered and said he had been pulled over multiple times for the bogus tag. When asked if he would consider obtaining a legal plate, he instead asked if Sung might change his.
Eventually, the driver said he would remove the fake plate from his vehicle.
Meanwhile, Sung filed a report with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. Authorities told ABC13 the case is still under investigation.
As for the wrongful charges, HCTRA confirmed to the news channel that they are reviewing all the transactions linked to Sung’s account and will issue him a credit for tolls incurred by the other driver.
For Sung, it’s an expensive lesson in how a vanity plate can make you stand out, even to the wrong people.
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How to protect yourself from license plate cloning
License plate cloning is becoming a growing problem in the U.S., where criminals copy legitimate license plates to commit illegal activities, leaving innocent vehicle owners, like Sung, on the hook for fines, tolls and even criminal offenses.
In New York City, the police impounded more than 4,000 vehicles with fake plates in the 12 months after a task force was established in March 2024, while nationwide scams, like one in Tampa involving more than 1,000 cloned cars, have racked up losses exceeding $25 million, according to the FBI. States like Virginia and Texas are seeing rising thefts and enforcement efforts, with automated license plate readers (ALPRs) recovering hundreds of stolen vehicles.
Victims of license plate cloning may have to deal with problems like toll charges, parking and traffic fines, wrongful administrative fees, and in severe cases, the issues can impact credit scores.
So, what can you do to protect your vehicle from cloning? Here are some strategies you can use:
Regularly monitor toll accounts. Log into toll authority portals, like TxTag and E-ZPass, monthly to review trip logs and check for unauthorized trips.
Use antitheft screws. Install tamper-resistant screws to make it harder for thieves to remove your plates.
Don’t overshare online. Don’t post images of your license plate on social media or public forums.
Be careful where you park. Choose well-lit areas with security cameras to help avoid theft.
Use plate-monitoring services. Consider services that alert you if your plate appears in enforcement databases or is flagged.
Regular monitoring and taking proactive steps like these can help protect you from the financial and legal repercussions of license plate cloning. If you do run into a stolen plate, report it to authorities immediately.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
