Three suspects, including a driving school director, have been arrested and placed in pretrial detention as part of an investigation into a large-scale driver’s license fraud scheme, the Antwerp police announced Friday. Investigators believe the fraudulent activities generated nearly half a million euros over approximately 3 years.

The suspects were offering early appointments for practical driving tests on social media under the name “Quick Appointment.” They asked for an average of 150 euros for them.

Remote assistance

Candidates were given earplugs and cameras hidden in a T-shirt, allowing them to receive remote assistance with their theory exam. One of the suspects also worked as a paid driving instructor without the required accreditation.

The driving school director also issued certificates for lessons that were never attended, totaling more than 1,000 euros. Over a period of three years, the fraud yielded 473,766 euros, transferred to accounts in Bulgaria and Lithuania.

All three suspects remain in custody. Candidates who committed fraud risk losing their driver’s license.