DVSA issues warning about parking fine scam text messages

Drivers are being warned of a scam where people receive demands for a non-existent parking fine - via text message. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued details of how scammers are sending the fake requests for payment for fake penalty charges.

The message - which is littered with spelling and grammatical errors - warns people they have a ‘parking penalty charge’, and that if they do not pay on time, that they might be banned from driving, incur a higher penalty, or be taken to court.

"Dvsa notice for you: You have a parking penalty charge due on 2024/9/30,” the message reads. “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. 

“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."

The DVSA has confirmed it does not issue, or deal with, parking fines and urged drivers who receive the messages to report it to the National Cyber Security Centre. You do not need to contact DVSA if you have received the text message but not responded.

However, if you’ve lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a suspicious text message, report it online at www.actionfraud.police.uk, call 0300 123 2040 (in England, Wales or Northern Ireland), or contact Police Scotland on 101 (in Scotland).

The warning comes just weeks after drivers were alerted to a scam involving fraudulent QR codes posted on ticket machines in car parks. The fake codes are presented as a way to pay your parking online, but instead, lead only to a link to hand money to fraudsters.

A number of councils have reported people falling victim to the scam, and urged people to use only approved apps to pay, or cash.