Motorists have been urged to “always” follow one crucial rule to “stay safe” online. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) revealed that approximately 20,000 people reported fraudulent activity from scammers during the previous year.
In a post on social media platform X, the DVLA stated: “Stay safe online – always use http://GOV.UK for DVLA services. Using other sites could cost you more – or worse, they could be scams.
“Read our top tips on how to avoid scams.” The Government agency warned on its website that fraudsters are “increasingly” employing “more sophisticated ways” to deceive their targets.
It stated: “It has never been more important for motorists to be vigilant and aware of how to recognise fraudulent emails, texts, websites and calls.”
Below are the DVLA’s “top tips” for maintaining online safety.
Exclusively use GOV.UK
GOV.UK is the “only place” to obtain official information regarding DVLA and its services. “Using any other website could mean you’ll be charged more for services that are either cheaper or completely free on GOV.UK,” the DVLA explained.
“Other websites may even be fraudulent, so our advice is to always use GOV.UK when transacting with DVLA.”
Never disclose your details online
The DVLA specifically cautioned against sharing your driving licence or vehicle details on the internet.
“Getting your driving licence is a big milestone, and you may be tempted to share your new shiny licence or V5C (log book) on social media,” it noted. “However, both documents contain key identifying details that scammers can use to steal your identity or even clone your vehicle. And before you know it, you could be receiving parking, congestion or speeding fines that you were not responsible for.”
Be wary of emails and texts
If an email or text message requests you to verify personal information, you should exercise caution.
The DVLA explained: “Fraudsters will often send emails or text messages to unsuspecting victims asking them to confirm personal details, such as bank or payment information.
“They may even send messages that claim you are entitled to a hefty vehicle tax refund. DVLA will never ask you for your bank account details or ask you to confirm payment details.
“We will only ask you to confirm your personal details by email or text if you have a live enquiry with us.”
The agency added that vehicle tax refunds are always processed automatically – not through a link distributed by email. If you receive such emails or texts, avoid clicking on any links.
Instead, you should report it to the National Cyber Security Centre and remove it straight away.
Websites mimicking DVLA
According to the DVLA, fraudsters develop websites that try to copy DVLA services and may look genuine.
“These sites will often charge additional fees for services you can get for free or at a lower cost on GOV.UK, including driving licence applications, vehicle tax transactions and Clean Air Zone (CAZ) payments,” it explained. “If you need to use these or any other government services, always search for them on GOV.UK.”
If you encounter any of these scams or any other suspicious activity, you can help fight fraud by:
Reporting phishing emails to the National Cyber Security CentreReporting online scams to Action FraudReporting misleading adverts to search engines
For more information, visit the Government website here.
