The DLVA has warned drivers about car tax scams posing as the agency.
Scammers are posing as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to lure motorists into sharing valuable information.
Motorists should be on alert for fake warnings about late Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) or road tax payments.
A tweet from the DVLA on March 14 warns: "Use GOV.UK for DVLA services or scammers may sneakily steal your personal details to commit fraud. Find out how these #scams work and how to avoid or report them" with a link to the Government's scam and phishing reporting page here.
Phishing is when criminals use scam emails, texts, or calls to trick people into thinking they are a trustworthy source or a real institution like the DVLA.
The agency attached a sample scam that reads: "Vehicle Tax Status - Unpaid!
"Your bank has declined twice the latest direct Debit payment.
"If you will not Update your Information, your vehicle is no longer taxed.
"NOTE: Our billing system will automatically retry the billing process once your billing details have been updated. It can take up to 5 working days for the records to update.
"In order to continue to the payment page please use the following link."
The scam warns at the end that not paying your vehicle tax on time can result in a fine up to £1,000.
Drivers should also note that car tax rates are increasing from April 1 to meet the rate of inflation.
The amount you pay on VED depends on your vehicle's fuel type and CO2 emissions.
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