Receiving a fine is bad news for all drivers and it directly affects their pockets. But they may end up more affected if instead of a traffic ticket This is the scam that the Civil Guard is warning about after detecting a new campaign of fraudulent emails and SMS that impersonate the General Directorate of Traffic.
In this case, the objective is to make drivers believe that they have a pending fine to pay in order to obtain their data. According to the notice, published through their social networks, the messages report alleged traffic sanctions and usually include links to websites that imitate the DGT. They ask the victim to enter personal and bank card information under the threat of an urgent surcharge if they do not pay within a short time.
From the National Cybersecurity Institute, which has also warned about fraud, known as phishing or smishing when it arrives by SMS, they recommend that you do not click on any link that you receive and that you always check the sanctions through official channels.
This is how the false fine scam works
As has been said, this scam reaches users through email or SMS in which they try to create urgency, communicating that they have an outstanding fine that they have to pay as soon as possible to avoid surcharges.
The pressure for speed when paying is one of the main warning signs, but, according to the information provided by INCIBE, this is an example of the email that users are receiving.
But it can also be received via SMS
The fact of resorting to short deadlines or threats of increased sanctions causes the person to act quickly and not check if the notification is real.
Always check if the fine is real
Before clicking on any link or giving any type of information, the Civil Guard recommends always checking through official channels if it is a real fine. This can be done through the miDGT application, the Electronic Office or the official notification systems.
The DGT reminds that its sanctions are communicated by postal mail or through the Road Electronic Address, in the event that the user is registered for this service, or it can also be consulted on the corresponding sanctions bulletin board.
Therefore, if an SMS or email arrives with a supposed fine, the safest thing to do is not to click on any links, do not download attachments and do not enter personal or banking information.
What to do if the data has already been given
If the email has been received, but no link has been clicked, it is recommended to block the sender, delete the message and report it through the channels enabled by INCIBE.
In the event that the link has been clicked to access the fake website and some type of information has been given, it is recommended to immediately contact the bank to protect the account or block the card if necessary.
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It is also advisable to save all possible evidence, such as screenshots, emails, SMS, links received or receipts, and file a complaint with the National Police or the Civil Guard. In case of doubt, INCIBE remembers that you can also ask for help through its Cybersecurity Help Line, 017.