Scam parking breach text messages sent to residents as warning sounded by council

Residents being warned of scam phone messages
-Credit: (Image: Chronicle)


Fraudsters have issued scam text messages relating to the payment of outstanding parking fines.

Hartlepool Council's parking trading standards bosses have received a number of complaints from people targeted by the scam, and the authority is keen to raise awareness.

The bogus texts states that the recipient has received a penalty notice from "a local council" and provides no further detail. However, where rules of a car park are genuinely broken, the registered keeper of the vehicle involved will receive a letter and not a text. This is because vehicles are registered to addresses not phone numbers.

The worrying messages say that 28 days is allowed for payment of the fine, but warns it will increase by 50% if it isn't paid within this time frame. A web link embedded within the text takes recipients to a fake gov.uk page which states the fine is £20. No details are provided about the location of the alleged contravention when a vehicle's registration number is entered. The payment page is live, however, and ready to take people's money.

Trading standards officials are stressing that people should not click on the link in the message. They say that aside from taking people to a convincing copycat gov.uk webpage, the page could also have hidden spyware embedded within it that will be used to steal personal details.

An example of the scam messages being sent to victims
An example of the scam messages being sent to victims -Credit:UGC

Cllr Karen Oliver, chairman of the council's Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: "This message has been brought to our attention by a number of concerned and worried residents, and we are keen to raise wider awareness of it. People should always be vigilant when receiving unexpected messages, and not be tempted to respond straight away – regardless of how official the message seems to be or how threatening it is.

"We would also advise people not to call the number in the text. This will be a random number and will not connect, but people who do call it run the risk of being added to future scams lists. Anyone who has called the number should be vigilant as to any future messages they might receive."

Trading standards officials advise people to forward the message on to 7726, OFCOM’s scam call and text message reporting facility, and then delete it. Guidance on how to forward details to OFCOM can be found here.

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