CBR is sounding the alarm about an increase in “prediction cheating” on theory tests
In the past six months, the central office for issuing driving aptitude certificates (CBR) has increasingly observed so-called prediction fraud in theory tests for driving licenses. People take their exams with a hidden camera that records the questions while someone relays the answers remotely through a small microphone.
The CBR is reluctant to provide exact figures. “But in the last three to four weeks, four people have been caught doing it,” said Ed Eering, in charge of theory tests, according to a report by NOS and AD.
Typically, CBR scams happen several times a year
Usually this type of scam happens a few times a year.” “We now have evidence that it’s happening on a large scale. People would pay 2000 to 2500 euros to pass their exam this way. That’s a lot of money, while an exam only costs 41 euros,” says Eering.
If the CBR catches a candidate committing this type of fraud, the police will be called. He takes the person into custody, whereupon the police and prosecutors initiate criminal prosecution. “But we actually want the people behind it to be treated as well. Exam candidates, without dismissing them as victims, are somehow tempted to pay big bucks for it. There has to be an overarching approach that also includes the organizers of the fraud,” says Eering.
Organised crime
Director of the CBR Alexander Pechtold calls the fraud “organized crime,” he says at NOS. “This is nothing like cheating at school in the past. It’s all very advanced.” Pechtold also wants exam cheating to be specifically punished.
If someone is caught cheating, they are not allowed to take a new theory test for several months. “On our own, we can’t prevent anyone from taking the exam,” says Eering. However, the exam is preceded by a meeting with the CBR, and the caught cheater will be monitored more closely during the exam.
At the CBR, they are familiar with exam fraud, from fake IDs to look-alikes of candidates taking the exam. Phones and watches are prohibited and must be kept in a locker during the exam. “There are even special devices that check whether the phones are in the safe and not secretly in the inside pocket,” says Eering.