Beware of the SMS scam that supposedly warns of a "pending fine" from the DGT.

You've asked the Maldita.es WhatsApp chatbot (+34 644229319) about an SMS that appears to be from the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) warning you that you have an outstanding fine that must be paid within 24 hours. Be careful because this is a case of smishing , a phishing technique used to steal personal and banking information.

The message circulating is presented as an "urgent notice from the DGT" with a warning that if payment is not made within 24 hours, an "automatic recharge" will be applied. The link redirects to a page that includes the logos of the DGT, the Spanish Government, and the Ministry of the Interior. It asks you to enter your license plate number to "check outstanding fines."

After entering a fake license plate, the website indicated a €35 fine for parking in a prohibited area and demanded payment within 24 hours. These types of messages seek to pressure the user into not checking the information. If the user clicks "pay the fine," they are asked to fill out a form with personal, contact, and banking information .

On its social media, the DGT insists that it "never notifies of sanctions via SMS or email." There are also signs that help detect a scam: spelling mistakes, inactive buttons, and the website address itself, which does not correspond to the official DGT domain ( https://www.dgt.es/inicio/ ).