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Whit Johnson reportingYesterday, we warned you of a serious scam involving a text message from someone impersonating a member of the Utah Highway Patrol. It turns out it was all a teenage prank.
What you may think is a practical joke could get you into a lot of trouble. That's where two 14-year-old boys have found themselves after a single text message on a cell phone prompted a state investigation.
Brady Hales received the text on his cell phone. It said, "This is the Utah State Highway Patrol machine. You were speeding on Feb 14. If you have any questions about your $150 ticket, please call this number."
Hales said, "He knew my first and last name, he had my cell number, which I never posted."
Hales also received a phone call, and the man on the other line knew the make, model and color of his car, along with a license plate number.
Authorities warned the public of a possible scam, but that was yesterday.
After the story made news, the investigation quickly came to an end. Jim Vaughn, chief investigator for the Utah State Bureau of Investigation, says, "They saw it on several channels, and it certainly got their attention right away."
Two 14-year-old boys approached their parents, who notified authorities that it was all a prank. "They did it has a hoax to a member of their church, and they never had any idea that it would go this far," Vaughn says.
In the text, the boys claimed they took photographs of Brady Hales speeding. They asked for personal information, which led authorities to believe it may have been someone looking to steal identities. Vaughn says, "It went on for enough time that manpower was called out and investigations began. All that has cost the state of Utah and the citizens."
Authorities are not sure why the teens picked on Hales, but the joke resulted in more trouble than they were looking for.
The teens are facing possible charges for impersonating an officer, which is a class B misdemeanor. But considering this was all a prank, investigators are not sure if the charges will go through.
