Internet scams are becoming more common. Criminals have found on the Internet a favorable medium to carry out their fraudulent activities by taking advantage of the accessibility of users through their mobile phones. One of the most recent deceptions is related to alleged fines from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), with which scammers try to persuade their victims with false notifications of traffic violations, as warned by the National Police.
In a message spread through their social networks, the Police warn of a scam that seeks to deceive citizens by falsifying traffic tickets supposedly issued by the DGT.
The potential victim receives an SMS message through which he or she is informed about an alleged traffic fine pending payment. In said communication, you are asked to review the file through an attached link, and to urge payment of the requested amount - 19 euros in the screenshot of the video published by the National Police - you inform the victim that you have 24 hours to do so, otherwise the amount of the penalty will be increased.
By clicking on the link, the scammers ask the user for their personal and payment information, and then proceed to steal the information. This is what the National Police warns in a video that in less than 24 hours from its publication already had more than 15,000 likes.
“But don't bite, because the DGT will never notify you of a fine via email or SMS,” warns the police agent who explains the modus operandi of the scammers.
If you have clicked on the link provided by the scammers in the SMS message, experts advise reporting the incident and checking in the coming months to see if our personal or banking information has been leaked online.
To find out if the DGT has fined you, it is no longer necessary to access the Official State Gazette (BOE) or wait for the postman to give you a certified letter with notification of the infraction committed. You can make sure in a faster and more agile way by consulting the DGT's electronic edict board, known as Testra.
To make the query you only have to write the vehicle registration number. You can also do so by providing the DNI number or the name and surname of the car owner.
Likewise, you will also be able to know if you have an outstanding fine through the miDGT mobile application. In the drop-down menu that you will find in the upper left part of the app, you will only have to select the My fines section. There appear both the penalties pending payment and those that have already been paid previously.
Finally, there is still another additional option to find out if you have been fined. This is the Road Electronic Address (DEV), an electronic mailbox of the DGT in which you can register to receive Traffic communications and notifications. This telematic communication has the same legal effects as the paper notification.
