UK car owners are being warned to remain vigilant and cautious of a recent text message scam targeting smartphones. Fraudsters are using the pretext of unpaid parking fines to deceive individuals into making payments. The scam, identified by the team at Mirror Online, is exceptionally convincing and poses a significant threat.
The fraudulent scheme starts with a text message alleging an outstanding Parking Charge Notice (PCN) and issues a warning that penalties will escalate if the fine is not settled promptly. The message received by Mirror Online stated, “Parking Charge Notice (PCN): The record shows that you have unpaid parking fines,” accompanied by a deadline of August 26, 2025, for payment to avoid additional charges and interest.
The text contains a link that recipients are advised against clicking. Several local councils have also cautioned against falling victim to this scam, reporting a rise in such deceptive practices in recent weeks. Trafford Council emphasized, “Please don’t click the link or make any payment,” while Royal Borough of Greenwich indicated that any text purporting to be a PCN is likely a scam.
Should individuals click on the link, they are led to a website resembling the official UK Government’s GOV.UK platform, with matching fonts, design, and colors. Users are prompted to input their local council’s postcode and their vehicle’s registration details. Upon providing fictitious information, the user is prompted to pay a £20 fine, with a “Pay Now” option displayed under the penalty charge notice.
Subsequently, victims are coerced into disclosing their full name, address, and banking information, granting scammers access to sensitive account details for potential financial theft. To safeguard against such scams, it is advised to exercise caution and refrain from clicking on any links within suspicious messages claiming to involve PCNs.
The GOV.UK site advises against divulging private information, responding to unfamiliar text messages, downloading attachments, or clicking on dubious email links. As scammers persist in deploying various tactics to extract personal data, vigilance is paramount in safeguarding against such fraudulent activities.