UK vehicle owners are advised to be cautious and vigilant regarding a recent fraudulent text message circulating on mobile phones. Scammers are exploiting concerns about unpaid parking fines to deceive individuals. This deceptive tactic, highlighted by Mirror Online, represents a highly realistic and alarming scam.
The scheme begins with a text message alleging an outstanding Parking Charge Notice (PCN) that requires immediate payment to avoid escalating penalties. The message reads, “Parking Charge Notice (PCN): The record shows that you have unpaid parking fines,” urging recipients to settle the purported fine by a specified deadline to avoid additional charges and interest.
Moreover, the text contains an embedded link, which recipients are strongly advised against clicking. Several local councils have also cautioned the public about this scam surge in recent weeks. Trafford Council emphasized, “Please don’t click the link or make any payment,” while the Royal Borough of Greenwich warned, “If you receive a text claiming to be a PCN, it’s likely a scam.”
Should individuals click on the link, they risk falling victim to the scam. Mirror Online conducted an investigation and discovered that the linked website closely mimicked the official UK Government’s GOV.UK website in appearance, including fonts, design, and colors. Visitors were prompted to enter their local council’s postcode and their vehicle registration details.
Upon entering false information, users were prompted to pay a £20 fine, with a “Pay Now” button displayed alongside the penalty charge notice. Subsequently, individuals lured by the scam would be prompted to provide their full name, address, and banking information, granting scammers access to sensitive financial data for potential exploitation.
To protect against such scams, individuals are urged to exercise caution and refrain from clicking on links in suspicious messages. The GOV.UK website advises, “Do not give out private information (such as bank details or passwords), reply to text messages, download attachments, or click on any links in emails if you’re not sure they’re genuine.”
As scammers persist in deploying various deceptive tactics to acquire personal data, it is essential for individuals to remain vigilant and safeguard their information against fraudulent schemes.
