DVLA issues urgent 'do this' warning to anyone who drives
The DVLA is urging drivers to be cautious as you could be a victim of fraud
The DVLA has sounded an alarm for UK drivers, alerting them to an increase in scams aiming to snatch personal information. In a recent update on X (previously known as Twitter), the agency issued a clear warning: "Use GOV.UK for DVLA services or scammers may sneakily steal your personal details to commit fraud."
Motorists are now being cautioned to stay alert and only engage with official government portals for any DVLA-related processes. Scammers have become adept at crafting convincing facsimiles of websites, communication, and contact points to dupe individuals and potentially charge for services that are either free or less expensive through GOV.UK.
The message comes as fraudulent activity continues to rise, with criminals exploiting lookalike websites to mislead users. On its official website, the DVLA highlights the risks, explaining how these scams work and how to report them.
To stay safe, always search directly on GOV.UK for verified government services - especially when applying for something like a driving licence or updating your vehicle details.
Do this, warns DVLA
On the website the DVLA linked to, it urged people to do the following:
Report misleading websites, emails, phone numbers, phone calls or text messages you think may be suspicious
Do not give out private information (such as bank details or passwords), reply to text messages, download attachments or click on any links in emails if you're not sure they're genuine.
Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk - the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate it.
Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 - it's free.
Report scam or misleading adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority. You can report adverts found online, including in search engines, websites or on social media
Report scam or misleading adverts to Google if you found them in Google search results
Report to Bing if you found them in Bing search results
What should I do if I think I've been scammed?
If you suspect you've fallen victim to a scam, it's crucial to act swiftly. The DVLA recommends reporting the incident to Action Fraud.
This can be done online here by creating an account or proceeding as a guest. If online reporting isn't possible, you can ring their helpline on 0300 123 2040.
This service is available for residents in England and Wales. For those residing in Scotland, such crimes should be reported directly to Police Scotland.
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