Gardaí Expose €680 Fake Licence Scam in Online Sting Operation

A man advertising counterfeit Irish driving licences online has been exposed following a successful sting operation by An Garda Síochána.

The fraudster, who claimed his bogus licences could withstand Garda scrutiny and even pass checks on official systems, was offering them for €680. In WhatsApp messages shared by Gardaí, the scammer confidently stated that the forged licences could be verified on the NDLS website, asking for personal details including name, address, date of birth, a selfie, and a signature on paper. Payment was requested via Revolut or PayPal.

However, unknown to the scammer, he was actually corresponding with a member of An Garda Síochána posing as an interested buyer.

An Garda Síochána, in a public warning, stated:

“Not worth the plastic it's printed on! While having a look around our posts online, we recently came across a chap that was offering fake Driving Licences that he reckoned would pass Garda scrutiny, and for just the small fee of €680. So we decided to check it out for ourselves. For what it’s worth, the sample licences he sent us didn’t pass our scrutiny. Even those back at the station that weren’t up to speed on our sting knew them to be fake. If you did take the chance and present us with one of these at a checkpoint or on the roadside – it wouldn’t just be the alleged road traffic offences that we would be pursuing but fraud offences too.”

The scam highlights a worrying trend in the use of online platforms to peddle fake official documents. Gardaí have reiterated the serious legal consequences of presenting forged documents, including prosecution for fraud and other related offences.

Members of the public are reminded that all legitimate Irish driving licences are issued exclusively through the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), and any attempt to purchase one through unofficial means is both illegal and dangerous.