UK drivers warned about new text scam that's 'extremely convincing'
UK drivers are being alerted to a new scam that's 'very convincing' and therefore easy to fall for, even for those who consider themselves tech-savvy. Scammers are targeting individuals by sending out counterfeit texts that direct you to a bogus government website.
The message claims that you've received a parking fine, and that it must be paid to avoid additional charges or potential legal action. Given how common parking fines are, many are at risk of falling for this scam, according to experts at Which? - who have raised the alarm and advised people on what to look out for.
The text, which will come from an unknown number, informs you: 'an unpaid parking fine was found on your vehicle,' and that immediate payment is required. The message contains a fraudulent link hosted by 'qrco.de', a QR code generator. If clicked, you'll be directed to a very accurate imitation of the actual government website, complete with matching logos, branding and font, reports the Mirror.
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You'll then be prompted to enter your vehicle registration number, before being told you must pay a £25 parking fine. After this, you're asked for more personal and payment information including your name, email, phone number and home address to settle the fine.
According to Which?, the 'only sign' that this was a fake website was the URL - as all official pages begin with gov.uk.
Motorists are being strongly advised to disregard this text if they receive it, as a measure to prevent potential scamming. It's also recommended to avoid clicking on any embedded links, as these could harbour harmful software that may infect your device.
Consumer experts at Which? have provided a four-step checklist to assist in identifying potentially hazardous websites and discerning their authenticity.
Check the URL - if it doesn't begin with 'https' or is different to what you're expecting, then don't visit it.
Check for slight changes in the website address - scammers will often mimic an official website address, hoping you won't spot a small typo or slight change to the address.
How did you find the website? If you were directed to it from a message or online advert, you should question it.
Read the pages on the website - it may say that it’s not officially affiliated with the actual organisation.