Getting a text or email about an unpaid fine? It could be a scam targeting Spanish drivers
The DGT has issued a warning about a phishing fraud in which fake traffic penalties are being sent to drivers by email and SMS
If you have received a message telling you that an unpaid traffic fine has doubled because you missed the payment deadline, stop before you click anything. Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has issued a warning about a phishing scam targeting drivers, and it is convincing enough to catch people out.Phishing is a type of fraud in which criminals impersonate a trusted organisation, such as a bank or government agency, to trick people into handing over personal information, bank details or passwords. In this case, scammers are posing as the DGT and sending messages that look alarmingly official, complete with the recipient's name, a reference number, a file number and the DGT's branding.
The specific example shared by the DGT on its social media account tells the driver that an original €100 fine has now risen to €200 due to non-payment, and includes a link to what is described as the driver's record. That link leads to a fake website carefully designed to look like the real DGT site, where victims are prompted to enter personal and credit card details to pay the fictitious debt.
The DGT is clear on this point: "The only official channels of communication are via postal mail or the Electronic Road Address (DEV), after prior registration." It never contacts drivers about fines by email or SMS directly.
So how does the real system work? Fines are sent by registered post to the address on file with the vehicle registration. If that fails after several attempts, the penalty is published in the Official State Gazette. Drivers who prefer to manage notifications digitally can register for the Electronic Road Address, an official electronic mailbox that sends an alert by email or SMS only to say a new communication is waiting, never to request payment directly.
It is also worth knowing that if you receive a genuine fine, you have 20 calendar days to pay it at a 50% reduction. No legitimate DGT communication will pressure you into paying immediately via a link.
If a message feels urgent and asks you to click a link and enter payment details, treat it with suspicion. The real DGT does not work that way.
You might also be interested in: Got a message from the Spanish Tax Agency asking for cryptocurrency payment? It is a scam
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