Motorists are being warned of a new scam which could see them slapped with parking fines and give their personal data to a criminal.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a warning about parking fine scam text messages which have become more common in recent weeks and months.
It warned that scammers are sending text messages to drivers about fake DVSA parking penalty charges even though the DVSA does not issue or deal with parking fines.
The text messages warn drivers that they have a “parking penalty charge” and that they could face consequences if they do not pay on time.
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The scam text prompted the DVSA to issue a warning
DVSA
The fake scam texts claim that Britons could be banned from driving, have to pay more than the initial fine is worth and even be taken to court.
To help motorists assess whether they have been hit with a fraudulent text, the DVSA has released an image of the scam currently going around.
It states: “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. [sic]
“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.” [sic]
The text is poorly formatted, contains numerous spelling errors and does not capitalise “DVSA”, although some motorists could fall foul of the scam.
Motorists are urged to report scam text messages to the National Cyber Security Centre, and they do not need to contact the DVSA if they have received such a text.
If someone has been tricked into sharing personal information with a scammer, they can take immediate steps to protect themselves, with further advice on the DVSA website.
Anyone impacted by these scams can report a suspicious text messages for free by forwarding it to 7726 which allows their provider to investigate the origin of the text.
The DVSA has also advised Britons to contact Action Fraud (in England, Wales or Northern Ireland) and Police Scotland if they have lost money or been hacked because of a suspicious text message.
Posting on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, the DVSA Enforcement team added: “We have not issued these messages. Don’t click on any links, you might be scammed.”
Some motorists have also taken to social media to highlight how they had been sent a scam text, with one man saying his wife was contacted despite not having a driving licence.
Another claimed: “Gotta love getting scam messages… this one is especially funny, considering I don’t have a car. DVSA? Don’t you mean DVLA?”
The DVSA does not deal with parking issues
PA
A third wrote: “Just got this text from the DVSA about a parking penalty charge, however after looking into it this is a scam. Anyone from the UK do checks before you accidently pay the scammers.”
