The DVLA has issued a fresh warning to drivers not to share documents associated with their vehicles to avoid losing thousands of pounds. The government department said sharing documents such as the V5C registration logbook could open people up to identity theft.
The warning applies to any documents associated with your car or van. Criminals are looking to steal people's identities before using them to take out loans, order credit cards, or open bank accounts in their name.
Fraudsters might even pass the name on to someone else for criminal purposes. Organised thieves have been known commit other crimes in someone else's name, such as using your information to get a passport or driving licence or to rent an apartment. They may even give your name to the police during questioning for a crime they have committed, reports BirminghamLive.
Now the DVLA has told people not to share their V5C book, as it could lead to ID theft. A statement on its Twitter page said: "Don’t share photos of your V5C log book on social media or selling sites, as scammers can use them for identity theft."
The V5C is issued by DVLA to the registered keeper of a vehicle. As the document states, it is not proof of ownership. It shows who is responsible for registering and taxing the vehicle. The registered keeper is required by law to notify DVLA if the vehicle is sold, transferred or dismantled (scrapped).
The documents are being used by criminals to accompany stolen vehicles that have had their identity changed to match that of a legitimate vehicle. This practice is known as cloning.
The cloned vehicles are being sold to unsuspecting members of the public who can suffer significant losses when the vehicles are found to be stolen.
Anyone who may think they are a victim of ID theft should contact Action Fraud at any time of the day or night using its online fraud reporting tool.
