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driving licence scam for the over 70's

(16 Posts)
infoman Sat 03-Jul-21 17:33:46

a warning from DVLA.
Web site trying to charge for licence renewal and also involves the log book renewal,please be aware and advise others.

seacliff Sat 03-Jul-21 17:43:29

Yes I nearly fell for this last week. I googled Renew driving licence, over 70, and went into the first site, which looked genuine. I had to enter my driving licence number and email, and then it came up wanting my card details. That's when I smelt a rat and left the site. I then had several quite demanding emails from them, asking for payment. So I marked them as spam.

MerylStreep Sat 03-Jul-21 17:49:43

Seacliff
Do you know why that company was at the top of the list?
Google.
www.bluecorona.com/blog/how-do-i-get-my-business-on-the-first-page-of-google/

muse Sat 03-Jul-21 18:18:15

Same here. I was doing MrM's 3 year renewal yesterday and the first site google shows, like you said seacliff , looks genuine. The questions are identical to the form you get from DVLA. At the bottom of the first page they give the costs eg renewal £80. ?

Further down on the search is the GOV.UK site.

I hadn't realised that when you are over 70, you must renew every 3 years but you do get a renewal form in the post a few months before it is due.

Only use the GOV.UK site for renewing licences. It's free to renew.

muse Sat 03-Jul-21 18:26:24

MerylStreep I pretty sure that all these sites are paid ads.

The GOV.UK site is below the ads.

A search for most things will list the paid ad sites first.

lemsip Sat 03-Jul-21 18:31:07

whatever you search for the first few results are Adverts, they have the word Ad next to them.....you have to scroll past to get what you are looking for, in this case the gov.uk site.
with the Ads, you pay for the service so be careful

seacliff Sat 03-Jul-21 18:34:07

Yes thanks. I am normally quite "switched on" to scams, but easily done. Good job I was already aware that it is free to renew at over 70.

I think there is a similar passport scam, where you go online to renew. It will be renewed OK but as you are going through a third party you pay an unnecessary extra amount. www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/passport-renewal/

Jaxjacky Sat 03-Jul-21 18:37:57

My friend fell for a similar scam for his 10 year renewal, he was 59, just didn’t pay attention.

Newquay Sat 03-Jul-21 18:44:47

My DH fell for this scam ? I kept trying to stop him but he wouldn’t listen. So he paid for exactly the same thing that’s free at the PO! Beware folks!!

Boz Wed 29-Jun-22 12:37:49

Just to add, I fell for this yesterday but DH smelt a rat - you do not pay for renewal over 70.
He telephoned and emailed them for an hour and finally got a refund. The bank couldn't do anything.
If you get caught, act like a terrier after a rat and you should get a refund.

naveedali4all Tue 12-Jul-22 10:46:21

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Blossoming Tue 12-Jul-22 11:02:54

Reported

M0nica Tue 12-Jul-22 11:02:57

The DVLA sened you a reminder. I knew there were lots of fake sites sos I just typed the address on the reminder directly into google. No problems, job done.

kakashii Thu 19-Sept-24 09:58:27

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kakashii Thu 19-Sept-24 10:01:32

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Squiffy Thu 19-Sept-24 10:27:18

Both reported!