A pair of Oldham taxi drivers tried to avoid prosecution for traffic offences by giving 'fictitious' details as part of a driving scam.

Ashiq Parvez of Brewerton Road claimed that on October 11 2022, another person was test driving his taxi when the car failed to comply with red/green arrow/lane closure signals on the M62.

The 49-year-old said he saw the camera flash and subsequently took the details of the person driving his taxi.

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However, the camera did not flash and it later transpired Parvez had a pre-booked fare from Manchester Airport 30 minutes after the camera was activated and this would have been his journey to the airport.

Mohammed Rangzaib of Brompton Street also tried to trick prosecutors into thinking he was not the driver of his vehicle that was caught speeding on Oldham Road on February 12 last year.

The 56-year-old claimed he had returned the Notice of Impending Prosecution to the central ticket office a few days after receiving it through the post, adding that the one the ticket office had in their possession was not the same one he posted on March 15.

The Notice of Impending Prosecution farm he used at the time of receipt of his notice had 133 fictitious or misleading nominations.

Such 'farms' supply fake driver details to police to help motorists avoid prosecution for traffic offences.

A check on all mail received within the central ticket office for 16, 17 and 18 March 2022, covering three full days following when Rangzaib stated he had returned his admission, had no returned notice from him.

Rangzaib was handed a £450 fine, £85 costs and £45 victim surcharge along with six penalty points on his driving licence.

Parvez was given a £288 fine as well as £85 in costs, a £115 victim surcharge and six penalty points on his driving licence.

Anyone with information about NIP farm scams, including those running them or drivers utilising them, can contact GMP online.

Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 08800 555 111.

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