Revealed: 7 tips to avoid online car scams
Drivers are once again being warned to watch out for online car tax scams, following a recent spate of fraudsters pretending to be from the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
According to the DVLA, the scams see criminals send fake texts and emails to unsuspecting motorists in a bid to steal their personal information and bank details.
In the last three months of 2018 alone, a worrying 1,275 reports were made to the agency about suspected online scams.
In a bid to crack down, the DVLA has now released 7 tips to avoid becoming a victim of online car tax fraud.
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| The DVLA’s tips to spot a car tax scam |
|---|
| Only use gov.uk websites when looking for information online so you know the service you’re using is legitimate. |
| Watch out for scam emails. The DVLA never asks for personal information via email, so if you receive one, ignore it. |
| Don’t use third party websites that charge additional fees for services free-of-charge on gov.uk websites. |
| Never use a premium-rate phone number to call the DVLA. All DVLA contact centre numbers begin with 0300 and are charged at local rates. |
| Don’t share images of your licence or vehicle documents on social media to protect yourself from would-be thieves looking to steal your identity. |
| Ignore any text messages about vehicle tax refunds. The DVLA never sends texts, so delete them immediately. |
| Report any suspected scams to Action Fraud immediately to help keep you and others safe from fraudsters. |
Dave Pope, Chief Information Security Officer at the DVLA, reiterated these tips, urging drivers to stay vigilant online to avoid being caught out by one of these scams.
He said: “When looking for contact details or any of DVLA’s digital services, you should only use GOV.UK so you can be sure that you’re dealing directly with DVLA.
“Posting on social media is a way of life for most drivers, however they may not realise they risk setting themselves up as a prime target for fraudulent activity.”
He added: “People can stay ahead of the criminals by being vigilant with their personal information and who they share it with, and reporting anything suspicious to the Police via Action Fraud.”
Copyright Press Association 2019. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
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