How Worried Should I be? Should I change Passport No etc? Scammed by Driving Licence 3rd Party.

Foresty_Forest

Foresty_Forest said:

AdrianC said:

HansOndabush said:

So many people are getting tricked into using these companies masquerading as the real deal

Because, when you apply online for a driving licence, the photo from your passport is used.

It was a renewel, and no it wasn't obvious, I was tired and rushing because my licence was out of date.

I guess you're a troll? Working for Licencesafe? No it wasn't obvious, I just checked and I was led straight to the renewal page and those images are no where to be seen. Anyway, yes you're right, I'm stupid and was unaware of these scams. Let that be a warning. 

AdrianC

The first two screenshots were taken just before I posted them by going to licencesafe.co.uk. The third was taken from the renewal page, which I reached by clicking the "Get it now" button, then "renewal 10yr".

As you say, you panicked and rushed. You googled, and clicked on an ad, then didn't read the site that took you to. Let it be a warning. Install an adblocker, or learn how to differentiate between ads and search results - gov.uk would have been the first non-paid result.

These threads come up here very regularly - there was one just a day or two ago. These have been going on for at least a decade... and if they weren't lucrative, they wouldn't continue.
Clearly, warnings don't work very well.

cymruchris

Foresty_Forest said:

Should I/can I change my passport and NI number?

No - there's nothing you need to do. No need to change anything. The only thing you need to do moving forwards is to read the screen in detail in future before committing to any government service. It's not something to report to ActionFraud. It's a daft mistake - you made it - you'll learn from it - you won't (hopefully) do it again! They are a legitimate business - although you might say they are not an ethical business - and you might call them lots of other names, but they do what they do, and people keep paying for it - so they'll be around for a long time yet I imagine. 

The_Fat_Controller

I am afraid you have no grounds to report any fraud.

Watch out for similar sites when you need to renew other official documents !

davidmcn

Foresty_Forest said:

AdrianC said:

Foresty_Forest said:

Should I/can I change my passport and NI number?

What actual risk do you foresee?

I don't know what a cyber criminal could do with all of this data? Identity theft?

They could, yes. But so could any of the thousands of staff who work for the DVLA, and you've got as much evidence for them being criminals as you do for Licencesafe. 

Flight3287462

OP beware if you decide to renew your passport, there are similar sites around that will do the leg for you too.  Don't want to be caught twice, that would be even more embarrassing  

Foresty_Forest

Concerning data/identity theft, can I take preemptive action? I'm looking at AF now, if I report to them that I believe my data could be used or sold on, would that help if my info is used for crime in the future.

boobyd

Foresty_Forest said:

Foresty_Forest said:

AdrianC said:

HansOndabush said:

So many people are getting tricked into using these companies masquerading as the real deal

Because, when you apply online for a driving licence, the photo from your passport is used.

It was a renewel, and no it wasn't obvious, I was tired and rushing because my licence was out of date.

I guess you're a troll? Working for Licencesafe? No it wasn't obvious, I just checked and I was led straight to the renewal page and those images are no where to be seen. Anyway, yes you're right, I'm stupid and was unaware of these scams. Let that be a warning. 

Not a scam though, its a service, they only keep going because of lack of awareness etc when on the Internet, How often, how many stories need to be highlighted before people think.
These sites years ago did mimick the official gov, but  not any more

Foresty_Forest

boobyd said:

Foresty_Forest said:

Foresty_Forest said:

AdrianC said:

HansOndabush said:

So many people are getting tricked into using these companies masquerading as the real deal

Because, when you apply online for a driving licence, the photo from your passport is used.

It was a renewel, and no it wasn't obvious, I was tired and rushing because my licence was out of date.

I guess you're a troll? Working for Licencesafe? No it wasn't obvious, I just checked and I was led straight to the renewal page and those images are no where to be seen. Anyway, yes you're right, I'm stupid and was unaware of these scams. Let that be a warning. 

These sites years ago did mimick the official gov, but  not any more

I think one problem for me was I was looking at the DVLA official site, and it is quite a poor design itself (3rd party?). Which I think threw me when on the LicenceSafe site. As said, I was tired and rushing - normally I'm someone who reads the small print. 

The_Fat_Controller

@Foresty_Forest just put it down to experience and don't make the same mistake when renewing anything else.