Warning to anyone who uses parking ticket machines to 'protect yourself'

Motorists who use parking ticket machines have been urgently cautioned to "protect yourself" due to a significant increase in parking ticket scams causing considerable "distress". Scams involving counterfeit QR codes, websites and parking ticket emails have been highlighted amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis nationwide.

Specialists are advising drivers to only download parking apps from trustworthy sources such as the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Andy Syrett, UK managing director at YourParkingSpace, told Birmingham Live: "After witnessing the distress caused by parking app scams last year, we want to ensure that we can educate and protect our customers.

"These tips aren't just recommendations - they are crucial steps every driver should take to ensure their online safety. Our commitment to your security is our top priority. We encourage everyone to practise these precautions to protect themselves from the increasingly sophisticated methods of scammers.

"Keep a close eye on your financial statements and look for any charges you don't recognise, especially small, recurring transactions that might slip under the radar. Setting up transaction alerts with your bank can help you monitor activity in real time. Promptly report any unauthorised transactions to your bank to prevent further fraudulent charges."

Chartered security professional, James Bore, has issued a warning about the sophistication of scammers, noting that they ensure their fake websites appear highly realistic to deceive the vigilant public. He explained: "If I was setting up a fake website, I'd give it a good domain name, a logo and make it look very professional so you wouldn't be able to tell it's not real."

He also advised caution with unexpected QR codes, saying: "But if you notice a QR code has been stuck on a parking meter, that should ring alarm bells and the easiest way to avoid it is to not use it. If you have any concerns, call the car park provider's phone number and follow the instructions."