Scam alert: New text message targets drivers with fake parking ticket

Drivers should be aware of a new scheme being used to steal money – with scammers using text messages to send out fake parking tickets.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has warned people to be on high alert after finding out about the scam. They explained that criminals are ordering drivers to pay fines, stating they have been caught parking illegally.

The text message warns people that they have a ‘parking penalty charge’ and that, if they do not pay on time, they could be hit with a number of penalties including having to pay more, being taken to court, and even being banned from driving.

However, there is one big clue that it’s a scam: the message is riddled with spelling errors.

The text message claiming to be from the DVSA 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 say drivers should be aware that they never issue parking tickets or fines, and no such messages would ever be sent out by them.

Instead they say, if you receive a message, you should contact and report it at the National Cyber Security Centre here.

If you have lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a suspicious text message, you can report it here with Action Fraud.