Local authorities across the United Kingdom are alerting citizens about a new fraudulent SMS scheme that is rapidly spreading. The deceptive message unexpectedly informs recipients that they have been issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and prompts them to click on a provided link to make a payment.
However, this link leads to a bogus payment site and is part of a parking scam that is becoming increasingly common, leading councils nationwide to caution drivers against falling victim to it.
Recently, the Cheshire West and Chester Council issued warnings about these fraudulent texts, which may also threaten severe consequences like suspension of your driving license, legal action, or damage to your credit rating if the fine is not paid promptly.
Maria Byrne, the council’s director of environment and communities, emphasized that their parking team has been made aware of these deceptive schemes. She warned that these messages might seem urgent and official but are indeed fraudulent, containing links to counterfeit payment portals.
It’s important to note that parking tickets, commonly abbreviated as PCNs, can be issued by two different entities. A “Penalty Charge Notice” is typically issued by municipal authorities for parking violations on public properties, such as high streets or municipal parking lots. On the other hand, a “Parking Charge Notice” is issued by private parking operators or landowners, for instance, for overstaying in a supermarket parking area.
The shift towards app- and phone-based parking payments, along with a record number of tickets being issued, has opened new avenues for fraudsters who employ various tactics. These include fake texts and quishing scams – a type of phishing that involves QR codes.
The BBC has also reported instances where criminals target individuals paying at parking machines by attaching skimming devices to the contactless payment terminals.
Despite the method used, these messages are essentially phishing attempts, and you could be targeted even if you haven’t recently used a QR code or a parking machine.
Details of the Scam
The fraudulent texts are crafted to appear legitimate, including terms like “issuing authority” and “notice number,” and the payment link may request your card information and vehicle registration number. Additionally, some messages may include threats of legal action, suggesting that non-payment could lead to a county court judgment and negatively affect your credit score.
Echoing the stance of other local authorities, Cheshire West and Chester Council has clarified that it would never issue PCNs for parking violations via text messages. Authentic PCNs are either physically attached to the vehicle’s windshield or sent through the mail.
There have also been incidents where scam texts purportedly from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) were sent to drivers; however, the DVSA does not handle parking fines.
Preventative Measures
To protect yourself, always verify the sender: genuine messages from parking providers or local authorities will originate from verified sources. Scrutinize any links sent to you, looking out for unusual URLs or poor spelling, and ensure that the URL starts with HTTPS before entering any details.
Legitimate parking notices should always include your vehicle registration, the time of the offence, and the location of the violation. Absence of these details is a clear indicator of a scam.
If you receive a suspicious text, do not click on any links or enter any personal or financial information. The British Parking Association (BPA) recommends logging into your parking app account or contacting the local authority directly to verify any claims.
If you accidentally click on a suspicious link, immediately restart your device to disconnect any potential remote access by the scammer. If you’ve entered your bank details, change your account password immediately and inform your bank’s fraud department about the suspicious activity.
It is also advisable to forward the fraudulent text to 7726, a free spam-reporting service, and then delete the message.
The BPA reminds everyone that real PCNs are issued on physical paper and will always include instructions on how to pay or contest the charge.
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