Number of driving license fraud attempts in Saxony declining

Nationwide, the number of attempts to cheat on theoretical driving tests is on the rise - but in Saxony it fell slightly last year. 80 cases were detected, compared to 88 the year before, according to figures from the TÜV association. Most attempts at cheating were registered in North Rhine-Westphalia (1,378), followed by Berlin (497) and Bavaria (449).

Germany-wide, 4,239 such cases of cheating were registered. This means that audit fraud remains a problem after strong growth in previous years (2024: 4,198; 2023: 3,759 cases).

"The current figures show that audit fraud is stabilizing at a high level after a strong increase in previous years," said Fani Zaneta from the TÜV association. At the same time, there is probably a large dark field, as only some of the deceptions are discovered.

High-tech meets old school

The use of technical aids is striking: according to the figures, mini cameras or barely visible earphones were used in more than one in three cases in Germany (36 percent). Even doppelgangers are not uncommon: in other cases, so-called substitutes took the exam. Overall, a good one in two attempted frauds (52 per cent) are now professionally organized, according to the TÜV association.

Often other people are involved who provide the test candidate with "technical support, transmit solutions remotely or pretend to be a learner driver", said Zaneta. This also requires the appropriate technical know-how to be able to carry out certain scams.