Scam offers in messaging apps are quick and persistent
If you are looking for an easy route to a driver’s licence, scammers can find you first. They reach out via comments under posts, by following profiles or through direct messages on social networks, presenting their service as fast and “official”. A single comment under a post is often enough to trigger a message with a seemingly attractive offer.
On the surface it looks convincing. They promise to bypass tests and deliver a licence without training or checks. In reality it is a scheme to extract money and personal data. Study the screenshots carefully and watch for common signs of forgeries and suspicious adverts.
The scam’s mechanics in a few steps
The scheme itself is simple and often repeated. Below are the main stages scammers use so you can understand how they operate and where the risk of losing money or data arises.
- Contact via social networks and comments. Scammers spot people seeking help or leaving comments and start private messages.
- Offer without exams. In messages they promise to process a licence quickly without taking theory tests or practical training and provide “price lists” or a sample of the document.
- Payment and request for additional data. After requesting payment they demand bank details or photos of documents and keep pressuring the victim with messages to get the money.
- Disappearance or a forged document. After receiving payment the contact disappears or sends a forged file that has no legal force.
These steps are often paired with fake guarantees and tight deadlines to push the victim into acting impulsively. It is important to remember the typical sequence and not give in to pressure.
How to obtain a licence only through official channels
Do not look for “shortcuts”. Get driving documents only through official channels and do not send money to private sellers via messaging apps. The only way to obtain a driver’s licence is to pass the theoretical exam at a service centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), complete practical training at a driving school and pass the practical driving test at a service centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
You can read a detailed guide for first-time applicants at https://hsc.gov.ua/prava/. It contains the official requirements and a list of steps needed to obtain documents legally.
Where to report fraud and where to seek help
If you encounter an offer to buy a licence or suspicious correspondence, report the suspected fraud to the relevant authorities. You can report suspected fraud to the cyber police via the form on their website and thus help identify the people carrying out these operations.
Additional information about common fraud schemes and advice on how not to become a victim can be found on the security project website https://promo.bank.gov.ua/stopfraud/. Trust only official sources and, before making a payment or sending personal data, carefully verify the person you are dealing with.
