A new scam is looming: a wave of fake fines during the lockdown easing

The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has warned about the identification of a new batch of emails impersonating the body responsible for traffic and road safety in Spain, which are trying to defraud their recipient. These messages warn of an outstanding debt for unpaid fake fines still to be settled.

In this way, the recipient is invited to click on a link where they could find information about the alleged penalty, even though at no point does it state the reason for these fines, which, in any case, are fake.

Once the link is clicked, the alleged offender would hand over all their data, which is not only what happens but would also fall into a case of phishing or electronic fraud.

The DGT is not responsible for these emails

Although the body of the text includes the logos of the Government of Spain together with that of the Ministry of the Interior, to which the Directorate-General for Traffic is attached, and also includes that of the DGT itself, none of these three is the actual sender.

Despite this, it is the latter that has raised the alarm about this new batch of fake fines, since in this disruptive, pandemic period caused by Covid-19, criminals are lying in wait for users who let their guard down.

That is why, through its social media profiles, the DGT has publicised this new episode of attempted fraud, a situation that is regularly repeated and that seeks to steal personal or banking data or money from users who, caught off guard, click on a malicious link.

Traffic fines are not notified by email

The use of language with errors and with terms that are unusual in this context, together with the redirection to a suspicious server, should be sufficient grounds to find signs of fraud.

Furthermore, in this same notice, the DGT itself has reminded that fines issued by this body are not notified in this way.