You get home after a long journey and remember you still need to pay the Dart Charge for crossing the Dartford Crossing. A quick online search, a few taps on your phone, and the £3.50 payment is done… or so you think.
Weeks later, a penalty charge notice lands on your doormat. Despite paying what you believed was the toll, you’re now facing a £70 fine. The problem? The website you used wasn’t official, it was a scam.
According to The Guardian, thousands of drivers have been caught out by fake toll payment websites designed to look legitimate.
How the scam works
- You search online to pay the Dart Charge
- A website appears at the top of search results and looks official
- The site name is similar to the real one (for example, paydartcharge.co.uk)
- You pay the toll, sometimes with an added “service fee”
- The payment goes to criminals, not the toll authority
- A few weeks later, a fine arrives for non-payment
Some scam sites even pass on the correct charge while quietly adding inflated fees, meaning the fraud may not be obvious until a penalty notice appears.
Why it’s so effective
Fake toll websites often use paid adverts to appear above genuine results in search engines. Their names, layouts and wording are deliberately chosen to mimic official government services.
National Trading Standards has warned that this isn’t limited to the Dartford Crossing. Similar fake sites have appeared for ULEZ charges, the Mersey Gateway Bridge, and other transport-related payments.
What to do if you’ve been caught out
- Contact your debit or credit card provider immediately to request a chargeback
- Take screenshots of the website and payment confirmation
- Report the site to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133
A useful preventative step is to agree a family codeword in advance. Something that would only be used in a genuine emergency.
How to protect yourself
- Always start at Gov.uk when paying for tolls or government services
- Avoid clicking on sponsored links in search results
- Be wary of websites that add unexpected fees
- If in doubt, pause and double-check before paying
Fraudsters rely on speed, familiarity and distraction. Particularly after long journeys. Taking an extra moment to check the website could save you time, stress and money.
If you’re ever unsure about a payment request or worried you may have been targeted by a scam, we’re always happy to talk things through.
Source: The Guardian ‘Dartford Crossing: drivers warned over scam websites that lead to fines’
