Police suspect B.C. licence tag scam underway

Authorities in Abbotsford will be on the lookout for phony license plate insurance tags starting in the new year, police say.

They were alerted by a local ICBC office that reported a man came in saying he was creating a promotional campaign and needed to know the colours of the 2012 insurance tags, police spokesman Const. Ian MacDonald said Friday.

When an ICBC staff member showed him a few of the tags, the man took pictures of them on his cellphone, MacDonald said.

"It's our assertion the gentleman went in there to get photographs and to colour match the decal because he's going to be making fake decals," said MacDonald. "Much like fake licence plates or fake temporary operating permits, it's essentially affording an individual the opportunity to pretend they are insured when in fact they aren't."

The fine for driving without valid insurance is $700, but the consequences could be far more expensive if the uninsured driver ends up in an accident, MacDonald said.