DVLA SCAM

[WELSHYORKIE]

Had an e-mail from one of our employees overnight with regard to a scam involving driving licences - see link below:


http://www.direct.gov...l1/Newsroom/DG_194193

[bensmum]

Thanks for the warning, too many of these scams about. (I hope anyone who got that e-mail with its atrocious spelling and grammar would realise it wasn't from a government agency).

[Answerprancer]

The REAL DVLA have been scamming for years.

[albaqwerty]

Agree with you bensmum. Sometimes I think they rely on people to be too busy to read these things properly.

[WELSHYORKIE]

The problem is, bensmum, that there will be people who believe it to be genuine because if it says it's from the governement it can't be a scam. Look at all the people who have been duped by the 'Nigerian' scams.

[jake-the-peg]

Clever idea poorly executed - people are familliar with bank phish but not purporting to be from government agencies.

Don't get too complacent about scams being badly spelt and amateur I've seen quite a few very professional ones

[squarebear]

As the mail isn't addressed to them "Dear Customer" and the link goes somewhere like "dvla.renew.cn" instead of the proper website, anyone who falls for this email is a fool.

Common sense is needed nowadays.

[ChuckFickens]

You can't even assume the Government will be intelligent enough to spot a scam (or should that be, you'd expect the government to be thick enough to fall for a scam?)

http://gizmodo.com/#!...d-uk-government-staff

[bibblebub]

If you are sufficiently experienced to notice something like the URL not matching the official site then you would be indeed be foolish, but I am involved with a group helping people who have no or very little experience of computer use, including emails, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if most of them were to see a message like then they would blindly go through with its instructions - they become a bit dazzled by the fact that they are using a computer and forget about common sense.

[squarebear]

Would these same people hand their personal details over to someone in the street if they asked for it? This is basic IT use and anyone who uses emails must be vigilant.

[Davethedog]

Squarebear have you ever seen those people who ask you to sign up for a charity in the street, apparently they ask for, and are given those very details.

Madness

[squarebear]

Indeed. they could be anyone. Nobody should give out their bank details to strangers in the street.

[joko]

its not as simple as that though...seemingly intelliegnt people get scammed all the time - hindsight is a wonderful thing.
you only have to watch The Real Hustle to see how easy people crumbe when faced with an official looking badge or uniform...they just comply...probably due to being brought up to 'respect their elders or authority' and it never leaves osme people...

[DTCwordfan]

I agree with Answerprancers comments about the DVLA being scammers.

What happens if you put false details in then on this one........false number and it doesnt take a genius to work out the DVLA's number system that does (underscore) include your birthdate...........

Would they go for a duplicate copy and then run into the DVLA with the false info???.