DVLA “Update Your License Details” Scam e-mail Warning

By | March 27, 2011

Watch out for emails claiming to be from DVLA asking you to verify your driving licence details via an online link – it’s a scam. DVLA has not sent any such email, so if you get one delete it immediately.

This is a phishing exercise. Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging, and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.

Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to fool users, and exploits the poor usability of current web security technologies. Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, public awareness, and technical security measures.

The DVLA email we are discussing today appears to be an attempt to trick drivers into providing personal details. If you get the email below, do not respond to it and delete it immediately.

From: DVLA

Subject: Update Your License Details

We are currrently upgrading our database and all drivers are required to update and verify there driver’s license details.To complete your license verification with us, you are required to fill out the form in the link below.

{Fake link}

Drivers that refuses to upgrade his or her details within two weeks of receiving this verification email will lose his or her driver’s License and will have to take a fresh driving test.

We sincerely apologise for any inconviniences this might have caused you.

Thank you for your co-operation.

(c) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea SA6 7JL

Observe the mistakes in the email.

The word “licence”  has the incorrect American spelling of “license”

The word “inconviniences” is wrong – it should be “inconveniences”.

The term “a fresh driving test” is not British English. That is also American/International English. In the UK, bread is fresh; driving tests are not.

The line “We sincerely apologise for any inconviniences [sic] this might have caused you” – that is past tense. This would have indicated you have done it already and that said inconveniences were plural. A British English speaker might say, “We sincerely aplogise for any inconvenience this may cause you”.

The line “Drivers that refuses to upgrade his or her details” is wrong. What’s with the extra “s”? Maybe Mr Nbogo meant “Drivers that refuse”? Also, one doesn’t “upgrade” his details; one upgrades a database. He probably means update.

“…..license details.To complete yo….” – What no space between sentences?

At least they didn’t put a “z” in apologise. They tried a little! The scammers need to go back to school before they pretend to be British. I guess those flies all over ones face can be a little distracting in Africa.

Probably this e-mail is from African scammers. Do not reply to it. Do not open the link in it. Simply delete it.

If you have opened the link – virus sweep your computer immediately. If you have filled in any details, refer to this advisory on the DVLA website and get in touch with them. You may need a new licence number.

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