Email from the DVLA... scammy???

[defblade]

I had an email today from the DVLA.
Apparently, I'm now the registered keeper of a BMW 420.
I, of course, know nothing about this car, have not bought it, etc etc.

Slightly weirdly, it has come through to my gmail account, which I use for almost nothing (except Amazon) and is a slightly complicated username which I would have thought unlikely to be entered accidentally.

An MOT check says the car has an MOT until 31 July 2021, so that's consistent with it being sold today.


I am now engaged with trying to contact the DVLA - which is interesting... asking to email them about a V5 problem just gives me an auto-email response saying "send the V5 back with changes in the appropriate boxes"... basically, there seems to be no way to just write them an email.

I may be able to use web-chat tomorrow as I am a critical key worker, but I'm not holding my breath.



So, 2 questions:

1) Anyone know the best/quickest/any way to get a proper query that doesn't fall into their normal scripts in to them ASAP?

2) What form of scam is is and how much hassle is it going to cause me (beyond the delights of the DVLA)?

Thanks in advance...

[Chris32345]

What email address is it from for a start

[Zarco]

Chris32345 said:

What email address is it from for a start

[e-mail]

[syl]

Just wait and see if a V5 turns up.

[Gareth79]

Can you post a screenshot of the email? Obv. block out anything identifiable. The email headers would be useful too, but might be quite lengthy.

[defblade]

Chris32345 said:

What email address is it from for a start

Headers etc below; my email and the car's reg xxxxxx'ed out (maybe it can be rebuilt from all strings, but it's not secret or anything, really).
Edit: no, they're not. When I try to post the full header, I get 403 forbidden.

I have noticed the address is in a slightly different form to the one I normally use. #### below is my year of birth.

I use: firstnamelastname###@googlemail.com
This email: firstname.lastname####@gmail.com

Maybe it's just mis-delivered??? My name is a less common spelling of a fairly common name; my year of birth should narrow it down a fair bit though?


Anyway, the simple email header info is:

<[e-mail]>

mailed-by: bounces.buysellvehicle.service.gov.uk
signed-by: buysellvehicle.service.gov.uk
security: Standard encryption (TLS) Learn more

[Jakg]

Could it be someones just typed the email address in wrong?

DVLA do send emails to new keepers if you change it online.

Email said:

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED EMAIL - Please do not reply as emails received at this address cannot be responded to.

DVLA have been notified electronically that you are now the new keeper of vehicle registration number: ABC12 DEF

The online Transaction ID is ABC12DEF-123456789

You should receive your new V5C registration certificate (logbook) within 2 weeks.

Since 1st October 2014, vehicle tax can no longer be transferred as part of the sale. This is because the seller will automatically receive a refund of any remaining tax.

You must tax this vehicle before it is driven on the road, tax now at www.gov.uk/vehicletax.

If you do not want to tax you can make a SORN declaration now at www.gov.uk/sorn.

For more information on driving and transport go to www.gov.uk/browse/driving.

You may wish to save or print this email confirmation for your records.

Yours sincerely
Some bloke at DVLA
Vehicles Service Manager

[Funk]

defblade said:

I use: firstnamelastname###@googlemail.com
This email: firstname.lastname####@gmail.com

Gmail ignores dots: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/7436150?hl=...

Someone's mistyped their email I would suggest.

[defblade]

Funk said:

Someone's mistyped their email I would suggest.

syl said:

Just wait and see if a V5 turns up.

On balance, this and this

Panic over!

Thanks folks