Driving test fraudster warning
Fraudsters who offer to help people illegally pass their UK driving tests are advertising their services widely across social media, an investigation by the BBC has found.
The BBC investigation discovered that more than 600 pages, groups and accounts exist on Facebook and TikTok promising licences without taking tests – many with thousands of followers. Some suggest lookalikes to take the practical test – others offer theory test help via a Bluetooth earpiece. Meta and TikTok told the BBC such content violates their guidelines.
BBC Verify analysed data from Facebook and TikTok and found as of 16 June there were at least 669 pages, groups and accounts with 138,900 followers which advertised driving licence services without taking a test. Adverts also appear on Instagram.
Reports of driving test fraud through impersonations have more than trebled in the past five years – from 654 in 2018 to 2,015 in 2023 – exclusive figures given to the BBC by the DVSA reveal.
It says the number of people who are being caught – and having their licences revoked – is increasing, although it remains a largely hidden problem. Between April 2021 to March 2022, more than four million theory and practical car tests were taken in the UK, with a pass rate of about half.
