Advertisement Red-light ticket scheme reported in Orange County Share Shares Copy Link Copy

WESH 2 News is learning more about a new con involving red-light cameras.A thief or thieves are telling people they owe a fine when they really don't.Officials said the scam causes the victim to think they have just received a ticket from a red-light camera, but it's really an attempt to con the person out of hundreds of dollars."It's really evil," said tech and marketing expert Tom Jelneck, who said he recently received the fake red-light ticket. Jelneck received dozens of emails claiming he'd gotten a red-light camera ticket and needed to pay up."It's basically telling me the local transit authority is pegging me as a red-light violator," Jelneck said.Jelneck, who has gotten an actual red-light camera ticket, was curious."You think you're going to see your vehicle rolling through something and you want proof, instead you're done, it's scary," Jelneck said.The email gives a date for the bogus infraction and a ticket number. It also threatens to go to police if the fine isn't paid. The email directs the victim to open a file to view the supposed violation, but Jelneck said that actually contains a virus giving hackers access to your computer - and your bank account.Pennysylania State Police issued a warning about the scheme last year. Mike Rhodes with Orlando Code Enforcement said drivers will never receive a red-light camera ticket through email."It's never going to come to you via an email. It's going to come through a first-class regular mail or through certified mail," Rhodes said.Experts say crooks will stop at nothing, often using current events to prey on victims.This week, Florida congressman John Mica announced there is a rise in thieves posing as IRS agents, using tax season to try to steal people's personal information.Actual red-light camera tickets will give users a password and direct them to a secure website.City officials say when in doubt, drivers can always double-check with them.>>Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS and Android