If Sadiq Khan can fall for a car tax scam, could you?

The London mayor Sadiq Khan has been caught up in a car tax scam, a reminder that anyone can be targeted by fraudsters.

Khan has said he was the “victim of a scam” after being fined over an untaxed car that had been falsely registered in his name.

In August, Khan was found guilty of failing to tax a 24-year-old Nissan Micra.

A criminal prosecution brought by the DVLA accused Khan of being the registered keeper of the vehicle after it was identified as untaxed on 24 January.

A magistrate convicted Khan in his absence and ordered him to pay a £220 fine, £85 in costs and £35.84 in unpaid vehicle tax.

But the car didn’t belong to Khan.

Court documents show that letters about the unpaid tax were sent to Gordon Ramsay’s east London restaurant rather than the nearby Transport for London offices.

A spokesperson for the mayor said the incident was a scam and it’s not the first time Khan has been targeted by people falsely claiming he is the owner of a vehicle.

The mayor now faces the possibility of having to appear in court to try to overturn the conviction.

Criminals are targeting motorists with fake DVLA messages

You don't have to be a politician or public figure to become a target.

Criminals are using fake texts and emails pretending to be from the DVLA to trick motorists into handing over personal and financial information.

Some messages ask you to confirm that your bank or payment details are correct.

Others claim you are entitled to a large vehicle tax refund and encourage you to click a link to claim it.

The aim is usually the same, to get you to hand over sensitive information or make a payment.

Scammers are also creating convincing websites designed to look like the genuine DVLA website.

If you use one of these sites, you could end up paying money directly to a fraudster or giving away your personal and financial details.

And because these messages can look surprisingly convincing, you can't always rely on your first impression to tell you whether something is genuine.

DVLA urges drivers to think before they click

The real DVLA has been warning drivers about fake texts and emails circulating online and has urged motorists to “think before you click”.

They’re warning motorists not to share personal or financial information in response to an unexpected message, and use GOV.UK if you need to access DVLA services.

The DVLA says it will never ask you for your bank account details or ask you to confirm payment details.

It also says it will only ask you to confirm your personal details by email or text if you already have a live enquiry with the organisation.

And if you're told you've got a vehicle tax refund, be particularly cautious. Genuine vehicle tax refunds are issued automatically, they are not sent to you via an email containing a payment link.

How can you stay safe from DVLA scams?

The best way to protect yourself is to slow down and avoid acting on an unexpected message.

If you receive a text or email claiming to be from the DVLA, don't click a link simply because the message looks official.

Scammers can copy logos, colours, wording and website designs to make their messages appear genuine.

Instead, go directly to GOV.UK yourself by typing the address into your browser or using a bookmark you already trust. Don't use the link or phone number provided in the suspicious message.

You should also:

• Never give away your bank details or passwords because of an unexpected text or email.
• Don't be pressured into making a payment. Scammers often create a sense of urgency by warning that you'll be fined, lose your vehicle or face further action if you don't act immediately.
• Check the sender carefully. A message appearing to come from the DVLA doesn't mean it actually does.
• Be suspicious of refunds. If you're unexpectedly told you're owed money and asked to click a link or enter your bank details, stop and check.
• Look out for spelling, grammar and unusual wording, although remember that a well-written scam can still be a scam.
• Don't rely on a search-engine result alone. Fraudsters can create convincing websites that appear when you're looking for official services. Go to GOV.UK directly instead.
• If you're unsure, stop. You don't have to respond immediately. Taking a few minutes to check could prevent you from losing money or handing over your personal information.

What should you do if you receive a fake DVLA message?

If you receive a suspicious text or email claiming to be from the DVLA, don't click any links or reply to it.

Instead, report it to the National Cyber Security Centre and delete it straight away.

You should also report online scams via Report Fraud.

Don't assume that you would never fall for a scam. As the Sadiq Khan case shows, fraudsters can make their claims look convincing, and sometimes the warning signs aren't obvious until it's too late.