UK drivers warned of new 'very convincing' text scam

Scammers to target people receiving the £300 cost of living payment by text to try to get bank details from them
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


UK drivers are being alerted to a new scam that is 'very convincing' and could easily trick even the most tech-savvy individuals. Fraudsters are sending out counterfeit texts that direct recipients to a bogus government website, claiming they have received a parking fine that must be paid to avoid additional charges or legal action.

Given the prevalence of parking fines, many people are at risk of falling for this scam, according to consumer watchdog Which? The fraudulent text, originating from an unknown number, states: 'an unpaid parking fine was found on your vehicle', urging immediate payment.

The message includes a fake link hosted by 'qrco. de', a QR code generator. Clicking through reveals a highly accurate imitation of the official government website, complete with matching logos, branding and font. Users are then prompted to enter their vehicle registration number and told they must pay a £25 parking fine, reports the Mirror.

Subsequently, more personal and payment information is requested, including name, email, phone number and home address to settle the alleged fine. According to Which? the 'only sign' that this was a counterfeit site was the URL - as all legitimate pages begin with gov.uk. Motorists are being strongly advised to disregard such texts if they receive them, as this could potentially lead to a scam. It's also recommended not to click on any embedded links, as these may contain harmful software that can compromise your device.

Consumer experts at Which? have provided a four-step checklist to assist in identifying potentially hazardous websites and determining 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