Drivers in the UK have been warned by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) to remain vigilant when they come to renew their licence and sell their car.
This is due to circulating scams which are said to be common - and it's catching out drivers.
The DVLA's Head of Fraud Policy Investigations, Phil Morgan, has issued a number of warnings and top tips to drivers of all ages to ensure they don't lose money or get caught by criminals.
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Phil, according to Birmingham Live, has warned that one major problem is websites pretending to be the official gov.uk website or are claiming to be middlemen between the driver and the DVLA.
Some websites can look like they are affiliated with the DVLA or claim to be part of an official government service when they are not.
These are third party companies which often charge a premium for passing a driver’s details when it would be cheaper or free on gov.uk. For example, renewing your driving licence at 70 service is free on Gov.uk whereas some customers have been charged a premium by using a third-party website.
These sites can appear high up in the results of a Google search, so to avoid being caught out, make sure www.gov.uk is included in the URL.
The Government agency has also urged people to make sure you never give out personal details such as date of birth, National Insurance number or driving licence number on social media. Similarly, if you post pictures of your official documents such as your log book (V5C) or driving licence, scammers can steal your information to commit fraud.
It’s also important to remember not to share your V5 document reference number – particularly to a prospective purchaser.
In addition to these scams, there is also an increase in the number of fake social media accounts that either claim to be DVLA or affiliated with it in some way.
Mr Morgan said: "These accounts promise to offer driving licence renewals or replacement documents at a speedier rate, however, an application made through a third-party company is not processed any quicker than one received through our official GOV.UK services.
"We’ve listed DVLA’s official social media channels on Gov.uk so you can be sure you’re at the right place."
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