$850 to Skip the Line: Scammers Exploit Driving Test Delays!

Scammers are taking advantage of the backlog in driving tests by falsely promising to expedite the process of obtaining a driver’s license without actual testing.

These con artists demand large sums of money, often in the hundreds of pounds, claiming they possess connections with insiders at governmental vehicle and licensing agencies.

In a case reported by the Guardian, a scammer charged £850 for a driver’s license, to be paid in installments, asserting that a “group of DVSA-approved instructors” would handle the buyer’s application.

These criminals purport that the applicant is registered at a testing center but does not need to take the theoretical or practical tests. Instead, they allege that their insiders will enter test results into the system, which supposedly results in the issuance of a license.

However, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have confirmed that such shortcuts are fraudulent schemes aimed at stealing money and personal information from victims.

They also cautioned that any documents provided by such scams are forgeries.

Possession of a counterfeit driving license can lead to criminal charges, with penalties including up to 10 years in prison.

The average wait time for driving tests is about 22 weeks throughout Great Britain, with those in London experiencing up to 24 weeks wait in several instances.

Recent DVSA data indicates that as of the end of September, there were 668,128 individuals booked for practical driving tests in Britain, an increase from 579,138 the previous year.

Figures from TSB bank reveal that losses due to fraud involving driving lessons and tests among its customers have doubled over a year, with victims losing an average of £244 each.

The majority of these scams were conducted through social media platforms, per TSB’s findings.

According to TSB, there has been a rise in the number of drivers tricked by fraudulent offers related to driving lessons.

Details of the Scam

The fraudsters using these social media accounts encourage potential victims to contact them via WhatsApp, as observed by the Guardian.

One scammer claimed to have an “agent” within the DVLA who could secure a full driving license and certificates for both theory and practical tests for £500, requiring an upfront payment of £200 and the balance upon receipt of the license within four days.

Another posed as a technician with access to the DVLA database, charging £740 for an automatic license and £850 for a manual one.

Questions from the fraudsters included inquiries about the prospective buyer’s driving skills, medical conditions, and any existing points on their driving record, which they claimed were necessary for processing the application. They also requested a screenshot of a provisional license for the application process.

These fraudsters typically asked for payments to be made via bank transfer.

Steps to Take

The DVLA has confirmed that no internal staff are involved in these scams.

“These accounts have no ties to the DVLA and are well-known scams aimed at extracting payments or personal details,” a spokesperson explained. Victims are advised to immediately report to the police via Action Fraud if they suspect they’ve been scammed.

The DVSA has also reported receiving numerous complaints about such scams, and the promised documents often never materialize.

A DVSA spokesperson stated, “These fraudulent accounts are not affiliated with DVSA and are recognized scams seeking to obtain payment or personal information. We thoroughly investigate any allegations of circumventing the testing process and maintain stringent standards to ensure the integrity of our driving tests.”

TikTok has removed three accounts identified by the Guardian for violating community guidelines against trading or promoting regulated or high-risk items and attempting to defraud users. Meta, owning Instagram, has taken down two accounts for similar violations, reinforcing its stance against trading in forged documents.