Have you received a sudden text message warning you about an "unpaid parking fine"? If so, take a second before you tap that link. Consumer champion Which? has issued a major warning about a highly convincing, fast-growing SMS scam designed to steal your personal and financial details.
Here is what you need to know to keep your bank account safe.
What Does the Scam Look Like?
The scam arrives as a text message on your mobile phone, often spoofing official-looking sender IDs or appearing from a random mobile number.
The message claims that a record shows you have an outstanding Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) or an "unpaid parking fine." To make the threat feel urgent, the scammers include a tight deadline, warning that if you do not pay immediately, you will face:
Increased court fees or legal action
Bans from driving
Negative impacts on your credit file
The message then directs you to click a link (often hidden behind URL shorteners like qrco.de or tinyurl) to settle the fee.
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| An example of the fake text message claiming a parking penalty charge is due.. Source: GOV.UK |
The Trap: Copycat Government Websites
If you click the link, you are taken to a highly sophisticated copycat government website designed to look exactly like the official GOV.UK portal.
To trick you into lowering your guard, the fraudulent page links out to genuine government pages (such as actual challenge portals or public transport rules). However, once you click through to "pay," the site will ask you to input:
Your vehicle registration number (VRN)
Your full name, home address, and contact details
Your credit or debit card details
The only major giveaway is the URL (web address). While the page looks perfect, the address bar will not start with the official gov.uk domain.
Why Real Parking Fines Never Arrive by Text
The absolute simplest way to spot this scam is to understand how UK parking enforcement actually works:
Government bodies, local councils, and private parking companies will never contact you by text message to issue or chase a PCN.
They do not have access to your mobile number. Real parking tickets are either:
Fixed physically to your vehicle’s windscreen in a yellow plastic packet.
Sent strictly by post to the address of the Registered Keeper on file with the DVLA. Official letters will always contain your vehicle's make and model, specific details of the location, and photographic evidence of the alleged contravention.
What to Do If You Get One of These Texts
Do not click the link: Even just clicking can let scammers know your number is active, leading to more targeted spam.
Report the message: Forward the scam text to 7726 (a free UK reporting service). This helps mobile network providers investigate and block the sender.
Report the website: You can report copycat or fraudulent websites directly to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Check securely: If you are genuinely worried you might have a real, outstanding fine, go directly to your local council’s official website or the government's official page by typing the URL into your browser yourself. Never use the link in the text.
If you have already entered your details: Contact your bank immediately using the trusted number on the back of your card to freeze your accounts and stop any fraudulent transactions.
Source: Which? (15 Jul 2026)
