The parking scams catching out drivers

You pull into a car park, pay for your stay and get on with your day. A few hours later, your phone buzzes. There’s a text message claiming you’ve got an unpaid parking charge. It looks official, warning you that you’ll face penalties if you don’t act quickly, or perhaps you’re standing at a pay-and-display machine, scanning a QR code to pay for your parking, unaware that a fraudster has placed a fake sticker over the genuine code.

Parking scams have become increasingly sophisticated, and they don’t just target people who have parked somewhere recently. In many cases, scammers send messages to thousands of random mobile numbers in the hope that enough people will be convinced to click.

The good news is that there are usually warning signs. Knowing what they are can help you avoid becoming the next victim.

Fake parking fine text scams

One of the most common parking-related scams starts with a simple text message.

The message typically claims you’ve received a parking charge notice or penalty charge notice and need to pay immediately. It may threaten additional fines, court action, vehicle restrictions or other consequences if you don’t act.

The aim is to create a sense of urgency, many people receive these messages shortly after they’ve genuinely used a car park, making the scam feel believable. Others receive them despite not having parked anywhere recently. That’s because fraudsters often send the messages in bulk, hoping recipients will assume the text is genuine.

There are several warning signs to look out for:

• Generic greetings rather than your name
• Unexpected links asking you to make a payment
• Threats designed to make you act quickly
• Spelling or grammatical errors
• References to penalties that don’t match official wording

If you’re unsure whether a parking charge is genuine, don’t click the link in the message. Instead, contact the parking operator directly using details from their official website.

Fake DVSA and DVLA messages

Scammers frequently impersonate trusted organisations, and motorists are a popular target.

You may receive a text or email claiming to be from the DVLA or DVSA. The message might say you have an unpaid parking charge, an outstanding vehicle related penalty or some other issue that requires immediate action. Because these organisations are well known, many people lower their guard when they see the familiar acronyms.

However, official organisations generally won’t ask you to make payments through links sent in unsolicited text messages. If you receive an unexpected message demanding payment, treat it with caution. A useful rule is to avoid using any links, phone numbers or contact details contained within the message itself. Instead, visit the organisation’s official website and check whether there are any genuine issues you need to deal with.

QR code parking scams

QR codes have become a common way to pay for parking. Unfortunately, they’ve also become a useful tool for fraudsters.

Known as “quishing” scams, these schemes involve criminals placing fake QR code stickers on parking machines, signs or payment instructions. When you scan the code, you’re directed to a fraudulent website designed to collect your payment card details.

At first glance, everything may appear legitimate. The fake website might display familiar branding, parking logos and convincing payment screens. The danger is that by the time you realise something is wrong, your card details may already have been compromised.

Before scanning a QR code, take a moment to inspect it. Does it appear to be a sticker placed on top of another code? Does it look tampered with or poorly applied? If something seems unusual, use an alternative payment method or download the parking operator’s app directly from an official app store.

Fake parking apps and cloned payment websites

Not every parking scam starts with a text message or QR code.

Some fraudsters create fake parking apps or cloned versions of legitimate payment websites. These sites often appear in online searches, advertisements or social media posts. You might think you’re paying for your parking session when, in reality, you’re handing your card details directly to criminals.

Watch out for websites with unusual web addresses, poor design, missing contact details or requests for excessive personal information. If you’re downloading a parking app, make sure it’s from a trusted app store and check reviews before installing it. If you’re using a website, take a moment to verify that you’re on the genuine site before entering payment information.

What should you do if you’ve paid a scammer?

If you think you’ve fallen victim to a parking scam, act quickly.

First, contact your bank or card provider as soon as possible. Explain what happened and ask them to secure your account. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to stop further payments or investigate the transaction. If you’ve entered your card details into a suspicious website, your provider may recommend cancelling your card and issuing a replacement. You should also change any passwords that may have been compromised and monitor your accounts for unusual activity. The sooner you act, the better your chances of limiting any financial damage.

Can your bank refund you?

Whether you’ll receive a refund depends on how the scam happened and how you paid. If you paid by debit or credit card, your bank may be able to help through chargeback procedures or other protections. Credit card purchases may also benefit from additional legal protections in certain circumstances.

If you were tricked into making a bank transfer, your bank should still investigate. Recent changes to fraud reimbursement rules have strengthened protections for some victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud, although outcomes vary depending on the facts of each case.

It’s important to report the scam promptly and provide as much information as possible. If your refund request is rejected and you believe the decision is unfair, you may have grounds to make a formal complaint.

Stay alert when you’re parking

Most parking transactions are straightforward, but scammers know that drivers are often distracted, in a hurry or worried about receiving a fine. That’s why parking scams continue to evolve. Whether it’s a fake parking charge text, a fraudulent DVLA message, a cloned payment website or a QR code stuck to a parking machine, the aim is always the same, to persuade you to hand over money or personal information.

Taking a few extra seconds to verify a message, website or payment method could save you from a much bigger headache later on.

If you have any thoughts on this topic, or any other consumer issues you would like us to cover, feel free to get in touch with us at support@resolver.co.uk 

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