Fixed penalty scam email: warning for DVSA customers

The Neighbourhood Teams for Humberside Police have received two similar reports from members of the public regarding a scam relating to a false Fixed Penalty / Parking Charge Notices being issued against them.

In both reports the cyber criminals have made contact by email and used a phishing technique to try and obtain money from potential victims.

Phishing is where Cyber criminals use fake messages as bait to lure you into clicking on the links within their scam email or text message, or to give away sensitive information (such as bank details).

These messages may look like the real thing but are malicious. Once clicked, you may be sent to a non secure website which could download viruses onto your computer, or steal your passwords.

The emails purported to be from HM Courts and Tribunal Service and try to infer that you have been charged for using a vehicle in what they call a “charging area”.

There are three main things that identify this email to be fraudulent:

-Email Address: This is the strongest evidence that this email is fraudulent but it is not the most obvious. Whilst the display name of the sender shows as from HM Courts and Tribunals Service the actual email address is very different. Make sure to check the contact details by selecting the display name s and opening the contact details. This process will vary on what device you are using. ONLY CLICK THE DISPLAY NAME IN THE EMAIL HEADER AND NOT ANY LINKS WITHIN THE EMAIL ITSELF.

-No Vehicle Details: Legitimate parking enforcement companies contact DVLA to obtain registered keeper detail of vehicles using the Registration, Make and Model of your vehicle. They are only provided with a name and address and not email addresses or telephone numbers. If you had genuinely been issued a Fixed Penalty or a Parking charge Notice you would be contacted by post. If your vehicle has been parked in an area it shouldn’t the details of your vehicle will be recorded manually or by some form of electronic monitoring equipment.

-Location: The location for the alleged offence. The only information provided about the alleged offence is that it occurred in the United Kingdom. Legitimate Parking Companies or Law Enforcement would state the exact location, date and time.

If you have received an email which you are not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk