Thousands of drivers issued DVLA warning and must make 'one' phone call
Drivers have been warned over a DVLA car tax scam circulating across the country. Shetland Islands Council urged drivers to not make payments on fraudulent websites, as more and more road users are at risk of falling foul to scammers and fraudsters.
A number of people in Shetland have reported receiving emails, supposedly from the DVLA, informing them that their vehicle tax is overdue. The email includes a link through to a bogus website which closely resembles the original, and where payment options are available.
Shetland Islands Council’s Trading Standards service is asking anyone who’s contacted in this way firstly to check their vehicle’s status on the DVLA website. It warned: "Anyone suspecting a scam should report it by contacting Trading Standards on 01595 744887, or Police Scotland on 101."
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Last year Action Fraud received 1,186 reports in two weeks relating to fake emails purporting to be from DVLA. 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 deleteit.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."
A second typed in reply: "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."