People across the UK with a car are being warned of three scams that they could fall for – and it’s not just older people who are being warned. In fact, young drivers could be more at risk as they may assume they won’t fall for them, meanwhile scammers are becoming smarter – including at car scams.
It may surprise some, but younger drivers aged between 25 and 34 are the most common victims of vehicle-related scams like used car fraud and bogus insurance deals, reports Lloyds Bank. But what are these scams? Well according to motoring experts at LeaseLoco, us Brits are now at risk of losing our hard-earned cash all thanks to savvy scams from fake QR codes to letters pretending to be officials.
Of course, older drivers are also being scammed too with this group falling victim to fake online payments and parking fines. Revealing the facts, John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco, said: “Unfortunately driving-related scams are really common and they work well for fraudsters because they can create a sense of urgency” leading you to handing over money faster.
They continued: “A lot of these scams will urge you to quickly pay a fee to avoid facing bigger fines. When we see something like this we often rush to get the payment done rather than stopping and checking the legitimacy of the message or letter.
“The good news is there are ways to spot these scams which can prevent you from losing any money. For example, if you’ve been contacted via text message to pay a fine, be conscious of who it is from. Organisations like the DVLA will never ask for money or personal information on a text message. By taking a moment to verify the legitimacy of these alerts you could save yourself from losing out on potentially thousands of pounds.”
You need to know these driving scams
1. DVLA messages
Firstly, talking about the DVLA, aka the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the motor experts point out that you may see a message that claims to be from the government body, but they’re not the real deal. In fact, they are far from it.
Fraudulent DVLA messages are on the rise and thse scammers tell their potential victims that your license needs updating. They may also claim your car tax payment has failed, pressuring you to provide personal details to avoid a headahce. However the experts warn that the DVLA will never request payment or sensitive information through email or text. You should always avoid clicking any links in these messages and always visit the DVLA website directly via gov.uk.
In fact, when it comes to the official DVLA, motorists should be aware that an update they do want to do quickly is update their personal info. Whilst being sure to go to the correct webiste, in a seperate warning, the DVLA remind people who have changed address to swiftly alter their records. The DVLA cautioned: “If you’ve changed address, update your driving licence details and vehicle log book with DVLA online.”
2. PCN fines – Parking Charge Notice
In their second warning, the LeaseLoco experts highlight another scam that scarily, you could fall for. It works when scammers send fraudulent parking charge notices to your home, pressuring you to pay a fake fine before it supposedly increases. However, before making any payments, it’s important to remember that an authentic PCN always has the date, time and location of the alleged violation. Remember, as always, if you’re uncertain whether your notice is legitimate, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your local council’s parking department to verify the fine’s authenticity.
3. QR codes on parking meters
In a scam that is becoming more popular, people with bad intentions are now placing QR code stickers on parking meters in an attempt to trick drivers into scanning them and making fake payments. To stay safe, always use reliable parking apps like RingGo or PayByPhone. Keep in mind that most local councils don’t use QR codes for payment with the experts stressing that they usually provide machines or rely on official apps instead.