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The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency, otherwise known as the DVLA, was quick to confirm a recent online scam that has resulted in many motorists across the UK receiving fraudulent e-mails requesting personal details. A spokesperson said, “We (DVLA) don’t send e-mails with links to websites asking you to confirm your driving licence number or payment information. We strongly advise anyone who receives one of these or any similar e-mail not to open the link, and delete the email.”
The e-mails use scare mongering, stating to the motorist that if they do no verify their details online they will lose their licence. Hundreds of thousands have already received, opened and answered the message, which is why we’re spreading the word and sharing our very own warning.
Much like many scams, this e-mail is extremely comparable to one that is legit. Even the website, which is embedded as a link into the e-mail, resembles a legitimate online service similar to one you would expect from the DVLA. Once on the website motorists are instructed to enter their licence number, as well as a credit or debit card number as a means of payment. When the fraudster has obtained this information they open to door to a whole load of criminal activity, including identity theft.
It’s most likely that the scammers will use victim’s information to pay for good and services, extracting money from the bank accounts of hard-working motorists.
With this having been said, you may be wondering what the DVLA plans to do to tackle the problem. The DVLA spokesman has also confirmed that the scam has in fact already been reported to the Government. He said, “The Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service will continue to investigate reports of organisations which may be actively misleading users about their services or acting illegally, taking swift action when necessary.”
Sadly, such investigations have through to light many more scams of this nature, making us all more aware of a number of different websites passing themselves off as official sites. This does, of course, show us how careful we must be when it comes to inputting personal data online and is something we must all become savvy to in order to keep ourselves protected.
To avoid scams related to the DVLA simply go to GOV.UK, as that way you can always be sure you are dealing directly with the official Driving & Vehicle Licensing Agency. Search Engines won’t always provide you with the most authentic results, as many scammers will pay for sponsored links and a high ranking.
If you do come across questionable websites, where you think terms and conditions have and are being broke, you can report it as necessary. Reporting such a site to Google means that it can then be removed from future search results altogether.
Have you had any strange e-mails recently? Share this post with your friends on social media to help protect their safety and warn them of this scam.
