Ringo Parking scam

Albermarle

Apparently this is quite common, where you get a text supposedly from RingGo, saying something like there has been error with your payment/you owe money, and there is a link to a dodgy website.

The worrying bit is that I received a text like this, less than 30 mins after parking in a car park where you can pay by RingGo. However I have never used the service, and had actually paid by credit card. It is either a massive coincidence ( I have never received a similar text before) or there was someone hanging around the car park checking car registration numbers, and they had some kind of database that linked car reg with mobile numbers. Or some other method.

Of course receiving such a text soon after parking, gives it more credence than if you just got it randomly, and therefore more likely someone would follow the links.

flaneurs_lobster

If that bit in the middle of the post were even remotely true

SCAMMER —> REG No —> MOBILE No —> DODGY TEXT

then that would be a very major breach of several systems.

But as you say, the iffy text only has credence if you really had just parked up in a Ringo-enabled site…..

Sure you didn't scan one of those hooky QR codes near the payment machines?

Other explanation is a straight-out hack or inside job at Ringo, they already hold your phone number.

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067951#Comment_82067951

No QR code scanning.

I assumed it was something more simple. My car reg and mobile number is linked on a number of sites. Insurance, garage bookings, paying drop off charges/tolls, Just Park etc and probably quite a few more. In fact one company who has not got my mobile number is Ringo, so probably nothing to do with them.

I have no idea really. It could be a coincidence, but it is not as if I am using these sorts of car parks on a regular basis and the text arrived just over one hour after I had parked.

Jimcarrey

Your number plate is already closely tied to your phone number and identity. People can keep saying personal data is protected, but there’s always a risk that someone might leak or misuse your information.

oldernonethewiser

The OP mentions they have never used the service.

If that is the case there would be nothing for Ringo to know.

Brisfit

I had one of these arrive just this afternoon, dodgy web link and all.

Although I have the Ringo app downloaded I’ve never actually used it so the “Gentle Reminder” subject of the text (about an outstanding balance) is nonsense.

flaneurs_lobster

Odd, pure blanket speculative spam normally tries to appear to be from a popular brand or service because you are more likely to get a hit on a customer who might bite.

Maybe Ringo is now ubiquitous enough to make this worthwhile to the spammers?

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82068167#Comment_82068167

RingoGo website has a recent warning about an increase in these scam messages, so must be a lot.

Albermarle

Just to add to this.

Today I got another text about unpaid Ringo charges. From a different source, with a link to a different website.

Also this time I had been nowhere near a car park that used Ringo, so looks like the first time it was just a coincidence.

diveunderthebonnet

I got one the other day and i have never used Ringo , i asked on here on the motoring forum and was told it is a scam and deleted it.

oldernonethewiser

Got one a short while ago. Pretty long text but as I've never used ringo easy to spot as scam.