Drivers warned of text message parking fine scam

Drivers are being warned about scammers claiming to issue car parking fines by text message on behalf of local councils.

Blaby District Council is reminding residents and visitors that car parking fines are never sent via text message or email. Parking wardens issue fines, Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), directly to vehicles flouting the rules in car parks.

The authority, which runs pay and display car parks in Blaby and Narborough, has made the call after hearing concerns from people who had received the scam messages demanding money for supposed parking fines.

Councillor Les Phillimore, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, said: "We have received reports from residents receiving text messages pretending to be from a local council issuing parking fines. This is simply not something we do.

"The majority of users of our car parks park within the rules and pay for their time, but when we need to issue fines we will only ever do this by fixing PCN’s to the vehicle’s windscreen.

"If you receive a text or email apparently from the Council that you’re concerned about do not click on any links, please contact us so we can confirm if it is from us or not."

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has also this week warned drivers of similar text scams which threaten people with a driving ban, increased fines or court action.

Scam text messages can be reported online to the National Cyber Security Centre.

Car park users are also being reminded that the Council does not use QR codes on any of its parking machines, following the news that parking machines in Leicester City had also been the target of fraudsters.

Find out more information on parking and enforcement in Blaby District.

Councillor Les Phillimore
Portfolio Holder for Housing, Community and Environmental Services