Drivers warned about scam 'fixed penalty notice' emails
The good news is that you don't have a fixed penalty notice. The bad news is that someone is trying to scam you.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has warned drivers to be on their guard for scam emails purporting to be from the driving body's Fixed Penalty Office.
Emails contain an attachment to a ‘fixed penalty receipt’. However, this is just an attempt to place malware on your computer, which can then potentially be used to steal your identity.
A spokesman from the DVSA said that it "never sends fixed penalty notices to customers by email". Fixed penalty notices, which cover 'moving traffic offences' like speeding, traffic light offences and box junction contraventions, are always issued in person or by post.
The DVSA urged anyone who receives such an email not to:
- Click any links in the email
- Reply to the email
- Make any contact with the senders
- Open any attachments that arrive with the email
- Supply any extra information on pages that open from email links.
Those who receive suspicious correspondence should report it to Action Fraud.
Identity fraud
You need to act fast if you think you’ve been a victim of identity fraud. With access to your personal details, fraudsters can open bank accounts, order goods in your name, take over your existing accounts and get their hands on genuine documents like passports and driving licences in your name.
To help minimise the damage, you should get in touch with your bank and the police as well as checking your credit report. Take the next steps by reading Identity theft: what to do if you’re a victim of ID fraud.
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