Social media users in the UK are being warned about a scam that could leave victims hundreds of pounds out of pocket. Fraudsters are targeting learner drivers anxious about passing their test, offering fake driving licences for as much as £400 with no exam required.
Exploiting the stress and long wait times currently facing UK learner drivers, scammers are promoting bogus services through TikTok accounts, claiming they can fast-track licences in just days. With the UK grappling with a record-breaking backlog for practical tests, some users may be tempted by the false promise of skipping the queue.
The warning comes as online interest in shortcuts is surging — Google searches for “buy driver's licence online” have jumped 200% year-on-year, while “buy driver's licence” has risen by 67%.
Aseem Munshi, founder of financial app Updraft, is urging users and parents to be alert. He warns that young learners on social media may be particularly vulnerable to these scams, which not only result in financial loss but could also expose victims to identity theft and legal trouble.
Updraft looked into the issue on the app and discovered that fraudsters are preying on frustrated learner drivers by offering fake driving licences for up to £400 and practical driving tests for £200, with promises of delivery within just three days. They identified multiple accounts connected to the scam, including one with over 6,000 followers promoting these illegal services.
The so-called "licences" have no legal standing, meaning victims not only lose their money but also face the risk of fines, prosecution for driving without a valid licence, and even identity theft.
In addition to fake licences, some scammers claim they can remove driving bans or penalty points for a fee, which could also lead to legal consequences for those involved. In a report by GOV.UK, "from 8 April 2025, learner drivers will need to give more notice when changing or cancelling their car driving test to avoid losing their fee.
"Currently, customers can cancel up to 3 days ahead of their test without losing their test fee. Under the new rules, learners must give 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel their test without losing the fee. This is the latest action in the government’s 7-point plan to reduce waiting times and will allow more slots to be made available."
Aseem Munshi warned that financial strain is part of the problem: “When people are under pressure, whether it’s from rising costs or the fear of falling further behind in the driving test queue, they’re more vulnerable to offers that promise a quick solution.
"Unfortunately, scams like these don’t just leave victims without a licence, but they also deepen financial stress by wiping out hundreds of pounds that could have gone towards genuine lessons or paying off debts. Scammers are clever at exploiting frustration, but the only safe and legal way to get a licence is to pass your test. No social media account can shortcut that process, and paying them could cost you far more in the long run.”
TikTok and Meta were approached for a comment. Meta, which owns Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, said: "We don’t allow fraudulent activity and work closely with law enforcement to support investigations and keep scammers off our platforms and with Stop Scams UK to help identify scams at the source."
It does not allow content that:
It urged people to learn more about the latest scams and tips to avoid them, visit Meta’s Anti-Scam hub.
According to a TikTok spokesperson: "Our Community Guidelines are clear that we do not allow the trade or marketing of regulated, prohibited, or high-risk goods and services, nor do we allow attempts to defraud or scam members of our community."
Reach sent a number of accounts to TikTok, which took swift action. It added: "We have taken action against the accounts shared for violating our Community Guidelines."
It said: "As highlighted in our Community Guideline Enforcement Reports, we proactively removed 94% of content that violated our fraud and scam policies in Q1 2025.]
"If our users encounter suspicious activity in-app, we ask that they report it under “Frauds and Scams” so that we can take immediate action and continue to keep the platform safe for our community."
