Motorists have been warned by the DVLA to keep a certain document private, lest their identity get stolen. The driving authority said people risk losing thousands by sharing their V5C book - or any other driving document - online.
Identity theft is a serious issue with serious consequences for victims. Fraudsters can open credit cards, borrow loans, and take over your accounts using your personal details
And today, the DVLA warned drivers today to keep a tight lid on their V5C books to prevent identity theft. It advised not sharing photos of the log book on social media and selling sites in particular, BirminghamLive reported.
A statement on their Twitter said: "Don't share photos of your V5C log book on social media or selling sites, as scammers can use them for identity theft."
The V5C is issued by DVLA to the registered keeper of a vehicle. As the document states, it is not proof of ownership. It shows who is responsible for registering and taxing the vehicle.
And when the vehicle is sold, transferred or dismantled (scrapped), the registered keeper is required by law to notify DVLA. Your log book is important to keep private as they're being used by criminals to accompany stolen vehicles that have had their identity changed to match that of a legitimate vehicle. This practice is known as cloning.
The cloned vehicles are being sold to unsuspecting members of the public who can suffer significant losses when the vehicles are found to be stolen.
If the worst does happen, anyone who believes they are a victim of identity theft should contact Action Fraud at any time of the day or night using its online fraud reporting tool.
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