LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Nevada DMV warns against buying free appointments or seeking help from “scalpers” while coveted spots are only available weeks in advance.
Ever since the statewide cyberattack shuttered DMV offices for days, people have been flocking to locations for in-person appointments and use of kiosks.
Wednesday night, the DMV website showed that appointments for the Flamingo Road location in Las Vegas were available starting October 9.
DMV officials advise people to not purchase appointments from strangers.
“We never charge for appointments, and our customers should never have to pay for appointments. We would never want anyone to be taken advantage of, and we have seen that happen,” said Hailey Foster with the Nevada DMV.
The DMV has warned against unknown selling sites that may steal your money or compromise your personal information.
If you’re in a time crunch to get a service, Foster has this advice: search for appointments on Tuesday nights after 8 p.m., as hundreds of spots will be made available for Wednesday.
Selling spots at services, state parks or restaurants has become a booming online business for third-party companies or sellers.
The Legislature took steps to curb the practice. Senate Bill 169 goes into effect on October 1.
The founder of website Appointment Trader tells FOX5 that New York and Hawaii passed similar laws. The website has made changes to comply and will keep making changes, owner Jonas Frey said.
Back in May, FOX5 showed you how buyers could browse the website for appointment times and dates for sale online. Now, the company has changed its format with the use of a digital “concierge”: a buyer posts their desired reservation and what they’re willing to pay.
“At the end of the day, I run this company, and I have to adhere to the laws,” Frey said. “It’s not us setting that price… Because it’s a free market, the customer can post whatever they want. Oftentimes when demand goes up, as in having many customers, then the average price may go down. If there is more supply, if there’s less supply, the price goes up,” he explained.
“If you have people waiting for weeks to get an appointment, that means they cannot get one. That’s why they’re willing to pay for something,” he added.
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