Motorists in the UK have been left reeling after being scammed out of thousands of pounds in tolls and emissions charges. The scam, which has targeted drivers on major roads such as the Dartford Crossing over the Thames linking Essex and Kent, sees fake websites popping up claiming to take payment for legitimate services.
The problem is that these sites are remarkably convincing, often mimicking official government websites with identical names and branding. This can lead to motorists unknowingly handing over cash to scam artists who make a tidy profit from inflated prices. In some cases, victims have been charged multiple times for the same service, racking up substantial fines.
National Trading Standards has warned that thousands of consumers have been duped by these fake websites, with losses running into millions of pounds. The charity advises motorists to take precautions when paying for government services online and to always check that they are using an official website.
The most common sites targeted by scammers are those charging for tolls such as the Dartford Crossing and London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez). In one notable case, two men were sentenced at Bristol crown court for operating over 40 fake websites that took in more than £2.25m from unsuspecting consumers.
It seems that many victims only discover they have been scammed once a penalty charge notice arrives through the door. Mike Andrews, head of the National Trading Standards e-crime team, says that "huge numbers of people are paying more than they need to for straightforward services".
To avoid falling victim to these scams, motorists can start by checking official websites such as Gov.uk, where they can search for legitimate payment options. It's also recommended that drivers take screenshots of any payment confirmations and report any misleading websites to Citizens Advice.
Those who believe they have been scammed should act quickly to get a refund through chargeback from their debit or credit card provider. If the site is taken down later, having evidence such as screenshots can be useful in building a case against the scam artists.
The problem is that these sites are remarkably convincing, often mimicking official government websites with identical names and branding. This can lead to motorists unknowingly handing over cash to scam artists who make a tidy profit from inflated prices. In some cases, victims have been charged multiple times for the same service, racking up substantial fines.
National Trading Standards has warned that thousands of consumers have been duped by these fake websites, with losses running into millions of pounds. The charity advises motorists to take precautions when paying for government services online and to always check that they are using an official website.
The most common sites targeted by scammers are those charging for tolls such as the Dartford Crossing and London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez). In one notable case, two men were sentenced at Bristol crown court for operating over 40 fake websites that took in more than £2.25m from unsuspecting consumers.
It seems that many victims only discover they have been scammed once a penalty charge notice arrives through the door. Mike Andrews, head of the National Trading Standards e-crime team, says that "huge numbers of people are paying more than they need to for straightforward services".
To avoid falling victim to these scams, motorists can start by checking official websites such as Gov.uk, where they can search for legitimate payment options. It's also recommended that drivers take screenshots of any payment confirmations and report any misleading websites to Citizens Advice.
Those who believe they have been scammed should act quickly to get a refund through chargeback from their debit or credit card provider. If the site is taken down later, having evidence such as screenshots can be useful in building a case against the scam artists.
I thought it was legit but then I looked it up and those fake sites are so convincing it's no wonder people get scammed all the time. I've been using my debit card to pay online and now I'm going to take a screenshot of every payment confirmation just in case 
I'm also going to report any weird websites to Citizens Advice, good that they're on top of this. It's just really frustrating when you think you've done everything right but then you get taken advantage of... 
! i mean who tries to scam people on tolls and emissions charges? it's like they think ppl are just gonna let it slide or something... anyway, it's crazy that fake websites are popping up and people are actually falling for it 
. the fact that they're trying to mimic official gov sites with identical names and branding is just low 
. and i'm so done with all these ppl getting scammed out of thousands of pounds 
I mean, can't we all just get along... with our debit card providers? 
Anyway, it's pretty wild that people only find out about these scams when they receive a penalty charge notice in the mail. Like, who needs a surprise party when you've got a fine to pay?! 
thousands of ppl getting scammed outta their cash & im like how do they even get away with it?! these fake websites r so convincing lol
its like ur own bank or gov site but nope, scammer 
anyway, just a heads up, check those gov sites on ur phone before u click on anything 
. I mean, who wouldn't fall for those fake websites? They're so convincing, it's like they're real! 
. Take screenshots of any payment confirmations as proof too 
. And if you do get scammed, act fast and report it to Citizens Advice 
. We need to look out for each other and stay vigilant 
Can't believe how many people are getting ripped off like this! These scammers are clever, I'll give 'em that - fake websites that look exactly like the real deal? It's just ridiculous. And it's not just the money, either - the stress and hassle of dealing with these scams is totally unfair. 
. And it's crazy that these fake websites can be so convincing! I mean, I've clicked on some weird sites myself in the past thinking they were legit, but thankfully I always fact-check first. This whole thing is just a major bummer for people who are already stressed about getting their money back. Ugh, scammers 
.
anyway, gotta give credit to national trading standards for sounding the alarm on this 
Check those websites carefully before hitting pay, and take screenshots of any suspicious transactions 
. If you think you've been scammed, act fast and report it to Citizens Advice 
. Let's keep each other safe online! 
#FakeWebsiteScams #TollScamWarning #OnlineSafetyMatters
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anyway, just remember: gov.uk is your friend 
don't let these scammers get away with your cash! 