Leicester City Council is warning drivers about receiving fake texts demanding immediate payment for parking penalty charge notices. More than 30 people have reported these scam texts, which include a link to supposedly pay the charge and a threat of doubled fees. The council's highways director confirms they never contact drivers by text for payments and advises blocking the sender and reporting to authorities. This follows a previous warning about fake QR codes on pay-and-display machines.
Leicester City Council Warns of Fake Parking Penalty Charge Notice Texts
Leicester City Council has issued a warning to drivers about fake text messages demanding immediate payment for parking penalty charge notices (PCNs). Over 30 people have reported receiving these scam texts, which contain a link to supposedly pay the charge and a threat of doubled fees.
The council's highways director has confirmed that they never contact drivers by text for payments. Drivers who receive such messages are advised to block the sender and report them to the authorities.
This warning follows a previous incident involving fake QR codes on pay-and-display machines in the city. Drivers were directed to a fraudulent website where they were asked to input their bank details to make a payment.
FAQs
Q: How can I identify a fake parking penalty charge notice text? A: Genuine PCN texts will come from "LeicesterCC" and will provide a reference number. They will never contain a link to make a payment or threaten doubled fees.
Q: What should I do if I receive a fake PCN text? A: Block the sender and report the message to the council's Environmental Health team at parking.notices@leicester.gov.uk or 0116 454 5880.
Q: What happened with the fake QR code scam? A: Drivers were directed to a fraudulent website that requested their bank details to make a payment. The council advised drivers to use the genuine QR codes on the machines or to pay using the phone app or website.
Q: Why do scammers target parking payments? A: Parking payments are a common target for scammers because they involve transactions where people are likely to be in a hurry and may not be as vigilant in checking the authenticity of the request.
Q: What can I do to protect myself from parking scams? A: Always check the source of any communication regarding parking payments. Never click on links or provide your bank details to unsolicited messages. Use official channels such as the council's website or app to make payments.
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