DGT Warns of Fake Traffic Fine Phishing Scam
Spanish authorities are warning drivers about a phishing scam using fake DGT fine notices sent via SMS and email to steal financial details, emphasizing that official notifications are only sent by post.
Drivers in the Canary Islands and the rest of Spain get fines if they break road rules. But a new problem has emerged: people are getting messages about these fines by text (SMS) or email, telling them to pay urgently.
These aren't real fines from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), Spain's traffic authority. Instead, criminals are pretending to be the DGT to steal personal information.
Here's how the scam works: You get a message, supposedly from the DGT, warning you about a fine you need to pay right away. The message includes a link to a website that looks just like the official DGT site. If you click the link, it asks for your personal and bank details to "pay" the fine.
But there's no real fine. The criminals just want your financial information so they can take money from your account. This type of scam is called "phishing," where fraudsters pretend to be an official organisation.
The National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) explains that phishing involves a criminal sending an email or text pretending to be a trusted organisation – like a social network, bank, or government body. Their goal is to steal your private information, take money, or infect your device. They often do this by including infected files or links to fake websites in their messages.
Both the Civil Guard and the DGT want to remind everyone: they will never notify you about a fine by text message or email. Official fines are only sent by post to your registered address. The only other way is through the DGT's online portal (called the Electronic Road Address), but only if you've specifically signed up for it.
So, if you get a fine notice any other way, especially if it includes a link, it's a huge red flag.
To avoid falling for these scams, authorities recommend being cautious. Experts warn that messages demanding urgent action are a clear sign of a scam. These messages are designed to make you panic and act quickly without thinking, making it easier for criminals to trick you.