The Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office has uncovered an organized network dedicated to hoarding and reselling appointments— which are free— for driver's license procedures, harming thousands of residents.
The discovery has been announced by Dariel Fernández, the current tax collector of the county, who recently assumed the position and has taken concrete actions to tackle this fraudulent scheme.
"We know who they are and how they operate. We will not accept any appointment obtained through system abuse.", stated the collector in a press release.
"We were able to detect everything that was happening due to the implementation of new software and programs that we have been acquiring," Fernández explained in statements to Univision.
“We began to see that many of these appointments were made with a single phone number. Many of the people who were arriving told us that their appointments were being resold at prices between 50 and 250 dollars,” he specified.
The problem, which had been affecting the residents of Miami-Dade for some time, was causing long lines and a shortage of available appointments, as resellers were blocking the online booking system to then resell the appointments.
According to the details, most of the cases came from driving schools in the county, where intermediaries charged citizens for appointments that are actually free.
In some cases, the victims were contacted while they were in line.
The Tax Collector has been unequivocal in stating that these practices are illegal and that his office will not allow the needs of the residents to be exploited.
"I am not going to allow anyone to pay any amount of dollars just for making an appointment. We are here to provide a service, and the companies that are unscrupulously doing this should know that the law will act against them as well, because they cannot do that. It's like trying to exploit a need that a resident has in Miami-Dade County," he pointed out.
Although no arrests have been made yet, Fernández assured that there is an "ongoing investigation" and that "they will take action very soon", as this is a coordinated effort with several law enforcement agencies.
"Our office is committed to ensuring that all residents have fair and equal access to services, without interference from those looking to exploit the system," the statement released reads.
The document also emphasized the importance of citizens reporting any attempts to charge for appointments to the authorities.
Measures to improve care and curb abuses
The collector also addressed the recurring complaints about long wait times and the difficulty in obtaining appointments.
In response, improvements are being implemented on the official appointment platform, and oversight has been strengthened to prevent the system from being exploited again by unscrupulous actors.
"Our message is clear: residents should not pay a third party that is not regulated for what should be a free appointment. Our website is easier to use than ever, book your visit directly through the Tax Collector's Office", concluded Fernández.
"Anyone who has to make an appointment should not pay a single cent and should report it to the appropriate police department."
With these actions, the Miami-Dade Tax Collector's Office aims to restore community trust, ensure equitable access to services, and protect residents against fraudulent practices.
"Our commitment is to ensure that all residents have equitable access to services, without interference or undue costs," he concluded.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, residents can visit the official website of the Miami-Dade Tax Collector's Office at mdctaxcollector.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fraud in Obtaining Driver's Licenses in Miami-Dade
What fraud network was dismantled in Miami-Dade?
The Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office dismantled an organized network that resold free appointments for driver's licenses. This network blocked the online booking system and then sold the appointments at prices ranging from $50 to $250, affecting thousands of county residents.
How did the appointment reselling network operate in Miami?
The network was dedicated to hoarding free appointments for driver's license procedures and then reselling them to citizens. They primarily operated through intermediaries in county driving schools, where they charged for appointments that should have been free, using a single phone number to book multiple appointments.
What measures are being taken to prevent this type of fraud in Miami-Dade?
The Tax Collector's Office is implementing improvements to the appointment platform and strengthening oversight to prevent system abuse. Additionally, they are working in coordination with law enforcement agencies to eradicate these fraudulent practices, and the importance of citizens reporting any attempts to charge for appointments to the authorities has been emphasized.
What impact did this fraud network have on the residents of Miami-Dade?
The fraud resulted in long lines and a shortage of available appointments, impacting thousands of residents who needed to obtain or renew their driver's licenses. This heightened frustration and made it difficult to access essential services, as many people had to pay unjustly for appointments that should have been free.
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