Drivers told to check four things or parking text could empty bank account | Personal Finance | Finance
UK drivers, fraudulent park beautiful text messages after a “fluctuation” is called to remain awake. Frauds are targeting drivers with convincing messages allegedly from local councils and parking operators, and demand immediately pay for alleged penalties.
The director of Indigo Car Hire’s director Carter summarized four important steps that each driver should take to protect themselves:
Never click the payment links in text messages. Always verify the information directly on your council’s website.
Carefully examine the expressions. Councils will not send a text that requesting payment immediately.
Check the sender details. Fraudulent texts are usually caused by random mobile phone numbers.
If you have any doubts, contact your council. Confirm the validity of the fine before leaving with any money.
The scam operates by imitating official criminal charges. Victims are usually informed that they should pay immediately via a link or QR code.
Once you have delivered their details, criminals can unload their bank accounts within a few minutes.
Consumer groups emphasize that the confusion between the official penalty fee notifications given by the councils and the parking fee notifications from private companies exacerbates. The first is a legal fine that must be paid or officially appealed, and the second is essentially a invoice or payment request.
If the scammers do not pay immediately, they are concerned about the increasing fines of the drivers, if they do not pay, they benefit from the fact that drivers lead to panic and pay comprehensive controls.
He warned: “This is becoming one of the most dangerous frauds on Britain’s roads. A text that demands an emergency fine may seem real, but if it falls to drivers, it can cost hundreds of hundreds.
“True simple, Councils will not chase you with short messages. Every driver must remember the title ‘click, pay, double control’.
“If you take a minute to stop and question, you can save yourself a lot of money and stress. Be calm, be careful and don’t let the criminals win.”
