Motorists beware! There is a series of scam parking fine texts doing the rounds. Hounslow Council parking team is urging everyone to remain vigilant. Read more below.
Published: Monday, 30th September 2024
Hounslow Council’s parking operations team is urging drivers to be vigilant after a spate of bogus parking-related phone text messages.
Motorists have raised the alarm after receiving scam texts demanding that they pay a Parking Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). There are several versions of the text, and the wording varies but includes content such as: “Please pay a parking penalty charge (PCN) issued by a local council” and that “If you do not pay, you’ll be prosecuted”.
The text message signposts people to a website where they are prompted to make a payment for a parking fine, personal details and payment information are requested.
Hounslow Council will only issue a PCN by attaching it to the vehicle’s windscreen or it can be sent by post to the registered keeper of the vehicle. The Council will never send a text message directly asking for payment.
The Hounslow Council parking team has reported the incidents to the National Cyber Security Centre. London Councils, which is responsible for all local authorities in London, has also been alerted.
However, the Council urges residents and visitors to the borough to remain vigilant against such scams.
Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Recycling and Transformation, Cllr Shivraj Grewal, said:
“These scam texts are preying on unsuspecting motorists and demanding them to pay money for offences they may not have committed. It is also important to point out that if you enter your information on one of these fake online sites, the criminals may then have access to your bank details.
“The message from Hounslow Council is clear, don’t be fooled by these scam artists. Our Parking Enforcement Team regularly patrols the borough’s roads to ensure that vehicles are parked correctly for the safety of all road users. They will only issue a paper ticket or write to the vehicle owner. If you receive one of these scam texts, please report it straight way.”
- You can report a scam text here:
- https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message
Find out more about PCNs issued by Hounslow Council here: https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20221/penalty_charge_notices
