Drivers should always be wary on the roads.
But now it seems as though they must be vigilant with their phones too.
That's because Brits are being warned over fake texts and emails sent from fraudsters claiming to be the DVLA.
READ MORE: New car tax changes could see Brits lose 21 days of income due to £3k yearly fee
Criminals are attempting to steal drivers' money and identities by posing as the motoring agency.
Motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk issued an urgent warning to all motorists to be vigilant of any scams and keep their info protected.
They're also given instructions on what to do to stay safe online.
It comes as there has been a recent rise in fake messages sent to innocent Brits.
The latest figures show in one year over 40million adults have been targets of fraud, a 14% increase from previous year.
Among the eight most common types of scam messages is from someone pretending to be from an official government organisation.
Recent data also shows the number of reports of fraudulent DVLA messages rose by 603% in a three month period.
Scams from those impersonating the DVLA typically ask the driver to verify their licence details.
They'll ask for bank details, offer tax refunds or highlight a failed tax payment.
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Tim Alcock, from LeaseCar.uk, said the scam emails and texts are getting harder to recognise as fake, leaving more motorists vulnerable to losing money.
He added: "Scam messages are becoming more advanced, with some fraudsters even using an email address which is identical to an official one, aside from one or two letters.
"Scammers pretending to be from the DVLA have made it easy for innocent drivers to fall victim to their crimes.
"It is alarming to see how official these fake emails or texts look, and it is no wonder how Brits are unfortunately succumbing to the callous fraudsters.
"Once the scammers have access to your bank account after claiming they can give you a tax refund, it is a quick job for them to drain all your money."
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New car tax changes could see Brits lose 21 days of income due to £3k yearly fee
He continued: "And if they ask motorists to verify their driving licence details, it's easy for them to create a fake identity using your information to carry out further crimes.
"We are urging all Brits to stay safe online to avoid falling victim to fake DVLA messages. Never share any personal information online – such as driving licence details and image, vehicle documents and bank details.
"It's also important to only access the DVLA website (and other official government sites) through GOV.UK, and only use the contact details on this verified website.
"Do not attempt to reach the DVLA through any third party website, or a link that has been sent to you."
It's worth remember the DVLA will never ask for bank details on emails and won't send texts about vehicle tax refunds.
If you suspect you've been a victim of fraud, you can report to the National Cyber Security Centre by emailing [email protected], or forwarding texts free-of-charge to 7726.
To find out more about how drivers can protect their data, head over to LeaseCar.uk.
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