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A worrying email claiming to be from Spain's DGT (Directorate General of Traffic) is circulating, warning of an unpaid fine that could double if not settled fast. The messages, reported through the Maldita.es WhatsApp chatbot (+34 644 229 319), claim an unpaid penalty will double if not settled promptly. The agency confirms it has not been sending these messages and they are in fact fraudulent.

 

The emails work by creating panic and they suggest urgency to prompt hasty action. "If we do not receive your payment within 24 hours of this message, the amount will automatically increase to €400," the message states. Key indicators of the phishing scam (where fraudsters impersonate trusted organisations to steal data via malicious links) include the sender's email address, which bears no relation to the DGT.

 

Unfortunately this is not new. The DGT has previously issued warnings about similar fraudulent SMS and email alerts. The National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) notes that the messages direct users to fake websites mimicking the DGT, requesting personal and banking details.

 

Drivers who have received such emails and provided information are advised to contact their bank immediately, retain evidence of the message (such as screenshots), and report the incident to the authorities. Official DGT communications arrive via their verified app, website, or postal mail, never through unsolicited urgent emails from unknown addresses.