Can you warn your readers about scammers who target people trying to renew their driving licences?

I’m the first to admit my own stupid fault but my photo licence was up for renewal, so I typed that into Google and the first website listed deals. It was orange, like .gov.uk sites, and I went straight to the ‘Apply for your Licence’ button (again my fault for not reading the small print). It asks for all the details, charges £50 and then sends me a completed form to send to the DVLA that asks for another £20. What makes it really annoying is that for £20 you can do the whole thing online via the DVLA site. Can you warn people not to fall for this con? I have lost £50, which I can afford, but there will be many (especially those not comfortable with being online) who will not be able to afford this and it is a real rip-off.

Asked on 5 October 2013 by PB, via email

Answered by Honest John

The country seems to be infested with con artists like this. There is a similar scam over driving tests. But the DVLA should be able to take direct action against them for passing themselves off. I cannot understand why the DVLA has not done so.

Tags: dvla scams driving licence

Similar questions

How do I tell if an email is a scam?

I’ve just received an email about renewing my driving licence, which I am sure is a phishing attempt.

Please warn your readers about website scams which simply complete forms for provisional licences.

My son just turned 17 and pestered me to get him a provisional licence. I Googled and the first site that came up was ‘provisionalicence.co.uk’ I clicked to order the licence and paid the £50, only to...

We are receiving demands relating to a driver wrongly registered at our address - what can we do?

About the middle of 2010, we received a letter addressed to a Mr Alan Thompson at our address. We are the first owners of a new house, which was built on the site of the old village hall, and Mr Thompson...