Borough Council warns motorists not to fall for parking fine text scam

Erewash residents are being warned to beware of a new phone text scam targeting car owners over council parking fines.

The message bears an official-looking “gov.uk” crown logo – and a box for drivers to enter their registration number.

Town hall officials were alerted by parking contractors who also work for other authorities – one of which reported a flurry of inquiries from the public.

The contractor said: “The link is taking the customer to a site to pay £20. We have advised anyone who has called not to pay and, where they have, to contact their bank to seek a resolution.”

The text is the latest in a plague of parking fine scams. Others have involved QR codes.

A statement said that Erewash Borough Council will NEVER send a text asking people to pay a penalty charge notice, known as a PCN, and urged anyone receiving such a message to forward it so that their mobile phone provider can take action – then to just delete the text. 

The number to send the message to is 7726 – which spells “SPAM” on an alphanumeric keypad. 

Full instructions are here: How to report scam texts and mobile calls to 7726 – Ofcom

If you have been a victim of the scam, report the matter to the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre at Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040.