The email message below: "You are eligible to recieve a refund," which appears as if it came from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, is a scam created by cyber-criminals to trick drivers into sending them their name, address, banking information and a copy of their driver’s license. People who have received the email message are warned not to follow the instructions in it.
The Fake DVLA Email Message
From: DVLA {dvla@dvladriver.co}
Subject: You are eligible to recieve a refund
DVLA Driver and Vehicle License Agency
Dear customer,
We are currrently upgrading our database and we found that you are eligible to recieve a refund from your last payment made on our behalf.
A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. As example, for submitting invalid records or applying over the deadline.
To complete your refund application with us, you are required to fill out the form in the link below.
https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/ tax-disc-refund/ID2803422
If you refuses to complete your application within two weeks of receiving this email will cause the lose the specified amount and you will take full responsabilty for that.
We sincerely apologise for any inconviniences this might have caused you.
Thank you for your co-operation.
(c) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea SA6 7JL
The link in the fake email message will take potential victims to the follow malicious website:
- http://94.23.227 .105/images/.w0rk/altul/
The fake and deceptive website will ask for the potential victims’ name, address, banking information and a copy of their drivers’ license. The information provided will then be sent to the cyber-criminals or scammers who have created the fake email and website.
Once those cyber-criminals have the victims' information, they will use it to steal their money and identity. Victims of the phishing scam are advised to report it to the police.
The DVLA has posted the following notice on the DirectGov orgov.uk website warning the public about the same phishing scam:
DVLA warns the public of an email scam that asks drivers to verify their driving licence and vehicle tax details via an online link.
The email, which wrongly claims to have been sent from DVLA, appears to be an attempt to trick drivers into providing personal details. DVLA have not sent out an email asking customers to update or verify their details.
We’re aware that some members of the public have received these emails and we strongly advise anyone who receives one of these or any similar email, to ignore it and not to follow the instructions given.
The government, led by Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service (GDS), will continue to investigate reports of organisations which may be actively misleading users about their services or acting illegally, taking swift action when necessary. By using the online driving licence or vehicle tax transactions ongov.uk you can be sure that you are dealing directly with DVLA.