Parkng fine scam

Jellynailer

Check out the latest free mailing from Which

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/scam-alert-new-parking-fine-scam-text-aj5wx1j3trT1?mi_u=224873240&mi_ecmp=S_SA_EM_ProdBU__20240905

Brie

can you summarise rather than making us click on a link?

Nellymoser

Saw this warning too beat me to posting it. Easier to read full article with this link

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/drivers-warned-very-convincing-parking-064619852.html

Drivers are being warned of a “convincing” new scam text message which accuses motorists of owing money through unpaid parking fines.

Consumer watchdog Which? is alerting drivers in the UK to the scam, which takes victims through to a copycat government website.

Brie

Thanks for the detail @Nellymoser
I don't like to click on to links ever since I went to a flashy warning screen that wanted me to put in all sorts.  

I'll put the word out on the local social media which is mostly more older and potentially vulnerable adults.  (they admit it so don't have a go!)

Fruitcake

This is on top of the spoof QR codes scammers have been putting over the ones on car park signs that take victims to a scam website. This means people pay the scammer for parking then to add insult to injury, they then get a PCN for not paying the genuine parking fee.

Nellymoser

Easy for people to fall for this scam when it shows gov pages and links to gov info on parking charges/fines. And of course Debt Agencies and PPC legals send texts asking for pcn payments.

@Brie the scam website does ask for more personal and payment data including your name, email, phone number and home address to pay the fine.

“The only sign indicating that this website was fraudulent was the URL. All official government pages start with gov.uk.”

You can report scam websites to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding texts to 7726, or you can report the scam to Action Fraud.

Jellynailer

Sorry about giving only a link = pressure of time.

Recommend that all sign up to the Which free scam alerts

powerful_Rogue

Nellymoser said:

Easy for people to fall for this scam when it shows gov pages and links to gov info on parking charges/fines. And of course Debt Agencies and PPC legals send texts asking for pcn payments.

@Brie the scam website does ask for more personal and payment data including your name, email, phone number and home address to pay the fine.

“The only sign indicating that this website was fraudulent was the URL. All official government pages start with gov.uk.”

You can report scam websites to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding texts to 7726, or you can report the scam to Action Fraud.

They end in gov.uk, not start.

Nellymoser

I copied this statement from the Which article:
“The only sign indicating that this website was fraudulent was the URL. All official government pages start with gov.uk.”

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/scam-alert-new-parking-fine-scam-text-aj5wx1j3trT1?mi_u=224873240&mi_ecmp=S_SA_EM_ProdBU__20240905

I received the scam text today, forwarded it to 7726. It threatens a bigger fine as well as court costs if I don't pay a Parking Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued by local council. 

EssexHebridean

This has been said on here and DFW many times - but a demand for payment of a fine or debt by text can be safely ignored - if someone is legitimately demanding money from you that will appear in hard copy form, via the postal system. 

I absolutely get the need to spread the word on this sort of thing, but if doing so please ensure that you also tell people that no operator that can legitimately give you a parking fine will do so by text! 

prowla

powerful_Rogue said:

Nellymoser said:

Easy for people to fall for this scam when it shows gov pages and links to gov info on parking charges/fines. And of course Debt Agencies and PPC legals send texts asking for pcn payments.

@Brie the scam website does ask for more personal and payment data including your name, email, phone number and home address to pay the fine.

“The only sign indicating that this website was fraudulent was the URL. All official government pages start with gov.uk.”

You can report scam websites to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding texts to 7726, or you can report the scam to Action Fraud.

They end in gov.uk, not start.

It's great when the protective advice is wrong!