Motorists warned of DVLA car tax scam circulating the UK - 'Always be cautious'

The scam involved people being "contacted" by the DVLA via email telling them to pay their overdue car taxes or could face severe concequences.

The email includes a link through to a bogus website which closely resembles the original, and where payment options are available.

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Drivers who fear they may have been targeted should check their vehicle’s status on the DVLA website.Anyone suspecting a scam should report it by contacting Trading Standards or Police Scotland.

Last year Action Fraud received 1,186 reports in two weeks relating to fake emails purporting to be from DVLA. The emails claim that the recipient's "vehicle tax payment has failed".

One driver impacted by the scam shared: "Please watch out for an official looking email from DVLA telling you that your motor vehicle excise licence has expired and that you need to contact them urgently as you are committing an offence it supplies you with all the relevant details you need to send to them in the link including your bank details.

"THIS IS A SCAM do not do anything other than delete it. It looks official but when you check the sender address it is a private one! An easy way to avoid this is register your email with DVLA and receive reminders for your road tax and MOT for your vehicles it's a really good free service."

Another person shared that they received an email from the DVLA that theirvehicle needs taxing urgently. "As I have not had a vehicle in my name for three years or so, I suspecta scam. Am I getting sharper or scammers getting after. On the other hand, could be DVLA folks are working from home," they added.

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Action Fraud explained how fraud cases spike during stressful times of the year when many people are sorting out finances.

The person warned: "Fraudsters are aware of this and are using different ways to trick people. Taking a couple of minutes to familiarise yourself with a few simple online safety tips can be significant in protecting yourself from becoming a victim of online fraud.

"You should always be cautious when sharing personal information online and avoid being scammed by only using GOV.UK for government services online, such as the DVLA."

Data revealed that over 40 million adults across the UK have been targets of scammers over the last year. According to DVLA reports, the number of fraudulent DVLA messages rose by 603 per cent in a three-month period.

To avoid being a victim of fraud cases, the DVLA urged customers to report any suspicious emails they receive to the National Cyber Security Centre through their suspicious email service.

As well as forwarding any suspicious emails and texts, DVLA warned drivers never to share driving licence images and vehicle documents online. The same goes for bank details or personal data online and avoid websites offering to connect to the DVLA contact centre.

Someone else shared: "Be aware, scam email doing the rounds supposedly from DVLA about car tax. Mine is most definitely taxed, checked DVLA to be doubly sure. Email now reported to report@phishing.gov.uk."

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To help prevent future fraud cases Action Fraud has suggested drivers check for the "closed padlock" symbol and/or https at the start of a website address. "If the padlock or https are not there, or the browser says ‘not secure’, don’t use the site," they warned.