Police Warn of DGT Fine SMS Scam

Scams are very common now that we live in a digital world. Online criminals often trick people who aren't aware of the dangers. They send fake emails or texts, or make calls pretending to be official organisations. Their goal is to steal money from people's bank accounts.

The National Police recently warned everyone on social media about a new scam involving unpaid fines. They even joked, "You drive very well and haven't received any fines, right?"

The police explained, "Have you received a message like this? It says you have an unpaid fine and tells you to click a link to view your file and finish the process. Be careful! Online criminals are sending these messages, pretending to be the DGT (Spain's General Directorate of Traffic)."

Officers say these scammers want you to click the link, pretending it's to access your file. But if you do, you might accidentally give away your personal or bank details.

The criminals' main goal is to empty people's bank accounts. They often pretend to be well-known organisations, like the DGT, because people are more likely to trust them and fall for the trick.

A National Police officer stressed, "Remember, the DGT never sends messages about fines or files by SMS." She also offered some simple advice for drivers who get these fake messages:

Authorities urge anyone who falls victim to these scams to report them. This helps the National Police investigate and warn others, which can help stop these frauds.

INCIBE (Spain's National Cybersecurity Institute) also has advice for anyone who has clicked the link and given their personal or bank details to scammers:

The DGT itself reminds us: "If you're ever unsure if a notification is real, remember that the DGT only sends out fines by post or through its official electronic notification service, the Electronic Road Address (DEV). You can also check the official public notice board for fines (TESTRA/TEU) to see if you have any outstanding."