Road tax scam

[Rolfe]

New one on me, by email. If I didn't already know I owe no road tax, it's not even a very well-done scam.

The email address that it's from is more than suspect. [email protected] for crying out loud. Like that's going to be one the DVLA use. And in the bottom field you can see the url you'd reach if you clicked on "Pay Vehicle Tax Now". It's a Greek URL. Not that I'm going to do that.

 

[dsimpkins]

Not a very well executed phishing scam, but regardless there will be people fooled by this. Email address and URL are two classic methods for spotting a phishing email. If anybody is unsure about how to spot a phishing email, this guide is clear and concise
How to Spot a Phishing Email | CrowdStrike

 

[siteguru]

The first big clue for me was Dear Driver .... a driver is not liable for VED, a registered keeper is.

 

[dsimpkins]

Using generic salutations is another tell tale sign. Top of the class.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Send a copy and explanation to Swansea and see what they do about it ?

 

[emmrecs]

This gov.uk page shows a number of similar phishing emails.

This scam has actually been around for some time, apparently.

 

[Everest]

And that's not to mention the title.... "Road Tax" which was abolished in 1937

 

[Rolfe]

Yes. I can never remember what it's actually called though. Probably a lot of people still call it road tax.

 

[dsimpkins]

Road fund license?

 

[dsimpkins]

Actually, just checked my renewal email from DVLA and it states Vehicle Tax

 

[siteguru]

Road fund license?

That was the official name of Road Tax.

It is actually called VED - Vehicle Excise Duty. (I'm not aware of it being officially changed to Vehicle Tax). Gov.uk website calls it VED:

Vehicle Excise Duty rates for cars, vans and motorcycles from 1 April 2025

This tax information and impact note is about increases to the Vehicle Excise Duty rates for cars, vans and motorcycles by Retail Price Index in 2025 to 2026.

www.gov.uk

 

[MG Clive]

That was the official name of Road Tax.

It is actually called VED - Vehicle Excise Duty. (I'm not aware of it being officially changed to Vehicle Tax). Gov.uk website calls it VED:

Depending on which part of the gov.uk site you look at, Car Tax Check calls it 'Vehicle Tax'

Check if a vehicle is taxed

Check and report if a vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax or is 'off road' (SORN)

www.gov.uk

 

[salty]

To me it's, Road Tax same as the V5 is the Log Book. Simple's.

 

[siteguru]

Depending on which part of the gov.uk site you look at, Car Tax Check calls it 'Vehicle Tax'

Check if a vehicle is taxed

Check and report if a vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax or is 'off road' (SORN)

www.gov.uk

If you notice, they say vehicle tax not Vehicle Tax ... there's a difference.

 

[Kenp1]

The biggest red flags for me would be that it doesn't mention the drivers name or car registration.

 

[Everest]

The biggest red flags for me would be that it doesn't mention the drivers name or car registration.

Really?... like even more than "Sarah from Beauty Busts in the Netherlands"

 

[Kenp1]

Really?... like even more than "Sarah from Beauty Busts in the Netherlands"

Yes, because I would read it first before checking the sender.

 

[MG Clive]

Really?... like even more than "Sarah from Beauty Busts in the Netherlands"

Aww bless her.

 

[Rolfe]

Quite honestly, the sender was the first thing I looked at before I'd even taken in the text of the message. It registered as "probable phishing scam" even before I opened the email (on account of not actually owing any road tax), so that was the obvious place to check first.

 

[aardvark5]

New one on me, by email. If I didn't already know I owe no road tax, it's not even a very well-done scam.

View attachment 36573

The email address that it's from is more than suspect. [email protected] for crying out loud. Like that's going to be one the DVLA use. And in the bottom field you can see the url you'd reach if you clicked on "Pay Vehicle Tax Now". It's a Greek URL. Not that I'm going to do that.

At least they didn't type Road Tax because everybody would know it was fake.
DVLA has never called it Road Tax unless it was back before 1937 in the UK.
Got to give the Scammers credit for that.