Community-powered scam watch

The fake traffic fine: “pay within 48h or the amount will increase”

An email or text says you have a pending fine and that it will rise by 50% if you don’t pay within 48 hours. It includes a payment link. The traffic authority doesn’t work that way — it’s phishing designed to steal your card details.

What the message looks like (real scam example)

The tell-tale signs

• The traffic authority doesn’t notify fines by email or text with a payment link. It does so by post, or through the official electronic road notification system if you’ve signed up for it.
• The domain isn’t dgt.es: “dgt-multas.info”, “multas-dgt.com”… none of these are official.
• A deadline with a threat: the classic pressure tactic behind most scams.

How to check your real fines

1. Go yourself to sede.dgt.gob.es by typing it into your browser (never from a link in the message).
2. Under “Fines” you can check yours using Cl@ve or a digital certificate.
3. Delete the message and, if it was a text, forward it first to 7726 (free reporting for fraudulent texts).

Also check the sender

You can analyse the email’s technical headers to see if the sending domain has been spoofed.

Already fell for it?

Take a breath. You can still act, and the sooner the better. We have a step-by-step emergency guide:

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