CTSI is urging motorists to be on guard against bogus text messages claiming they have outstanding car parking charges. Some of the messages, which have dramatically increased in frequency over the past six months, include threats that if the charges are not paid in time, the recipient will be banned from driving or taken to court.
The messages include a link to a convincing copycat Government website, complete with accurate fonts, branding and logos. Any payments made via the link, however, go straight to fraudsters’ accounts.
Often, there are three successive messages: a first message informing the recipient of the fake parking charge, another telling them they must pay, and a third message threatening them with legal action or a driving ban if they do not pay.
Tim Day, CTSI Lead Officer for Doorstep Crime, Scams and Consumer Vulnerability, said: “Anyone receiving an official looking text message about parking fines should give themselves time to think before responding. All legitimate parking fines will contain full details of where and when the parking infringement took place, how to pay and the parking charge appeals process. Never click on weblinks or respond to text messages about parking fines.”
The links included in the messages are often hosted by a QR code generating website, meaning people are also at risk from automatic, recurring payments being set up on their accounts. QR code scams often sign people up for subscription payments without their consent, while the links can take people to websites that do the same thing.
According to Katherine Hart, CTSI Lead Officer for Doorstep Crime, Scams and Consumer Vulnerability, “Consumers should be very wary of any links that they receive from unknown numbers or email addresses, including these latest parking scam messages. There has been a real rise in these types of scams in the last six months, and we are urging consumers to be on the lookout and seek advice should they receive a suspicious message.”
Motorists who receive the scam messages are advised:
- Local authorities will never text you about parking fines
- All real parking fines contain details on the back of how to pay or appeal
- Never visit links that you receive via text from unknown numbers
- Never scan QR codes that you receive from unknown sources
- Any scam text should be forwarded to the number 7726
- You can get consumer advice applying to England and Wales from Citizens Advice
- Consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133
- You can get consumer advice applying to Northern Ireland at Consumerline by ringing 0300 123 6262
- You can get consumer advice and report a scam in Scotland by using the Consumer Advice Scotland website or calling 0808 164 6000
