Driving test swap Facebook groups SCAM

[DrivingTestSwapScam]

hope you will all agree that I am reasonable to warn you all about large scales active scamming in the UK regarding swapping driving tests.
I looked up Mumsnet to see any advice on what you should consider for the driving practical test as I learnt most things in life from Mumsnet. Someone in a thread mentioned getting an earlier date on Facebook swap groups.
I logged on early Monday morning- as advised on old threads- and booked a driving test with soonest date near me in December. I then looked up driving test swap groups on Facebook, saw there were a few, and joined.
I scanned through the Facebook groups, seeing many tests listed for locations and times all over the country, all 'available'. An admin post said to contact them on WhatsApp, giving a number. I went ahead and contacted them without much thought, it must be said. Their WhatsApp description said DVSA approved blah blah blah.
I stated my wish to have an earlier date and they replied, professionally (!) listing exact dates/ times 'available'. For an admin fee of £100 they would arrange the swap and I would get an email from DVSA within minutes. I foolishly sent the £100. They blocked me and had the Facebook group dismantled before I even knew it.
I have obviously reported to my bank (I obviously know the name and bank details they used), and the police.
Today I looked for this and other similar Facebook groups and tried adding my experience in one. My comment was immediately removed and I was removed from the group.
This seems to be quite a prolific scam network, actively setting up groups, WhatsApp numbers to arrange test swaps, and no doubt scamming many learner drivers every day.
I want to let as many people know about this as possible.
I also want anyone who looks up driving test advice on Mumsnet to see this thread so they may avoid being scammed by these organised criminals.

(Posted again with new subject title that includes the crime, so that Mumsnet users are warned)

You've posted this twice.

As I said on your other thread, it has been illegal to book a test on behalf of someone else since 12/05/26, so if anyone is offering to swap your test for you, you know it's a scam.

I am too tech -hopeless to edit the subject title, so I reposted with a new subject title that includes the essential info that this is about Facebook swap groups scam. I did this so that any mumsnet user will come across this if they look up advice on driving test swaps
( My other thread has the title Driving tests, so not informative if someone just searches broadly, like I did)

I want to highlight that it's an ongoing and very active scam.
I looked up Mumsnet advice before booking my driving test and just saw that Facebook swap groups were a thing.
That's how I ended up in my situation.
I don't want others to find THAT thread and not this one.
I want to assist others so they are not scammed.

I did not know that this was a scam, so I assume others don't either.

It's on the booking page that you used to book your test. I'm just not sure they can make it much clearer, to be honest?

Honestly I just didn't read this
I am likely a bit dozy
I am making this thread so that others who are as hopeless as me don't fall into the same scam

You sent someone you don’t know £100 because they told you to on WhatsApp.

Yes it’s a scam, but most people wouldn’t be so foolish.

I am making this thread then for people who are as foolish as me.

It's fair warning, I guess, @DrivingTestSwapScam as probably many people have done the same hence why it's prolific. No harm in warning others.

Well done, you're obviously so much smarter than the OP.

Is that what you're after?

OP fell for a scam. She's now hoping to help others avoid the same thing. That's a good thing surely?

Why are you being such an arse about it? Just because you wouldn't fall for it, doesn't mean others wouldn't.

No, I don't think I'm 'so much smarter' but I do think that it's really clear on the booking pages. You even have to tick a box to declare that you are the learner, with a reminder that it's illegal to book for someone else, so if someone is offering to book for you for almost double the test fee, it should raise red flags.

But they weren't booking my test.
They were swapping my booked test for an earlier test date they advertised on Facebook as available. They took my booking reference number telling me that was needed to make a swap with DVSA. Obviously I have not booked a driving test before. It's not something people do frequently. So I had no idea.

I had no idea it was a scam and a very active one.

I am just trying to ensure others are warned, and at least if someone looks up Mumsnet advice on the topic they may see my thread.

That's not really my point. The OP didn't post saying that the DVLA hadn't made it clear. She wasn't complaining about the DVLA or anything else.

She was trying to help others, so that they wouldn't fall victim to the same thing.

You and others basically posting "Duh, aren't you a numpty" does nothing to help. All is does is make people less likely to admit they've been victims of scams.

More awareness of scams is a good thing. Giving grief to people who've been victims of them does nothing but help the scammers.

Thank you, this is the reason I made this thread.
Yes I do feel foolish. Yes I also watched the Tinder Swindler and wondered how/ why people parted with their hard earned money.

Now I have been a victim of a very active scam I hope other learner drivers might stumble across this thread if they search, and avoid sending their money to criminals.