The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is warning that scammers are sending text messages about fake parking penalty charges.

The text message warns people that they have a ‘parking penalty charge’, and that if they do not pay on time, that they might be banned from driving, have to pay more or be taken to court.

The text message reads “Dvsa notice for you: You have a parking penalty charge due on 2024/9/30. If you do not pay your fine on time, Your car may be banned from driving, you might haeve to pay more, or you could be taken to court. Please enter your license plate in the link after reading the information, Check and pay parcking penatly charge. Thank you again for your copperation. Dvsa.”

DVSA does not issue or deal with parking fines and says people should report scam text messages to the National Cyber Security Centre.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis commented: “This new text message trick is the latest in a series of nasty scams where criminals are catching drivers out by imitating online payment methods. 

“In the short-term, the cost is unnecessary and expensive as drivers end up paying a fine for an offence they didn’t commit. The long-term implications can be even worse if scammers use their bank or personal details elsewhere. 

“It’s incredibly unusual to receive a text about a parking fine if there wasn’t a ticket on your car in the first place – and the ticket normally includes information on how to pay. To be safe rather than sorry, we’d advise any recipients of the text to first check if they need to pay a fine with the authority rather than following the URL in the SMS. If a fine is due, ask for the payment options and, if you choose to pay it online, make sure the website is the genuine one and that any details you enter are sent securely.”

(Picture – DVSA)