Scammers are sending fake text messages to residents across Kent about parking fine charges that don’t exist.

The messages have prompted both Kent Police and councils to alert households to the crime - but how easy is it to spot the scam and what happens if you get caught out? Lauren Abbott explains

Fraudsters are impersonating workers from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency telling people they have an outstanding parking penalty charge.

The ‘very convincing’ messages, which the DVSA says are being circulated widely, warn that people risk being banned from driving, will have to pay more money or will be taken to court if they don’t cough up and pay the fine.

The first text message, littered with spelling mistakes, usually reads "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 have 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."

But further follow-up scam reminders, say fraud experts, are at risk of making the fake text messages appear more believable.

These include timed warnings that people are on their last day to pay before facing final action, that their impending driving ban will be activated ‘tomorrow’ without payment and that DVSA workers are preparing to prosecute should personal details or money not be received.

Spotting the scam

The DVSA says it ‘does not deal’ with parking fines or penalty charge notices, which means any text messages purporting to come from the Agency about payments will be a scam.

But consumer group Which? says there are other ‘telltale signs’ the messages are fake.

Both the initial text and follow-up reminders are littered with spelling errors and erroneous capital letters, while the link included is not an official government web domain, which would end in gov.uk, should it have come from an official government agency.

Lauren Merryweather, from Which?, adds that any threat you will be banned from driving for not paying a parking fine is also an empty one.

“First, you or your car can’t be banned from driving after getting a parking fine, even if you don’t pay” she explains.

The situation in Kent

Stephen Kelly, Prevent and Protect Fraud Officer for Kent Police, says the scam messages are circulating in Kent.

In a warning, he said: “We have had several reports of the below parking fine or commonly known as a penalty charge notice being received via text message. It is a scam.

“Do not click on the link, as it is designed to take you to a realistic-looking website under the control of the criminals, where they will look to steal your personal and financial data.”

Thanet District Council, Higham Parish Council, Horton Kirby and South Darenth Parish Council and New Romney Town Council are among the authorities in Kent to also be circulating warnings about the scam texts to local residents.

Warnings from Thanet District Council shared and circulated on Facebook include a number of comments from people who say they have received versions of the messages in recent weeks.

Last month Canterbury City Council also issued its own warning about parking fine scams - reminding residents that it too would never send out such text messages asking people to pay a penalty charge notice.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has also shared and reiterated Kent Police’s warnings about the DVSA parking scam in his own fraud alert briefings.

Can you get your money back?

Anyone tricked into paying money or sharing personal information must contact their bank immediately and explain what has happened.

Depending on how any payment was made it may be possible to get the money back, according to the Stop Think Fraud campaign.

Victims who act swiftly with their bank may be able to get the funds recovered quickly or even be able to stop the money from leaving the account in the first place if they paid using a debit card.

However, if it’s too late for that, there may be some added protection via the industry Chargeback scheme that applies to transactions up to £100 made from a debit card.

There is also some protection for credit cards under the same scheme alongside Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act - but this will depend on the exact nature of the scam and how you fell for it.

For those who moved the money by bank transfer you’ll need to tell your bank the account number you sent the money to so they can try to retrieve the funds. In ‘many cases’ says the government your bank will look at reimbursing you.

Payments from PayPal will be covered, says the government, for items paid for but not delivered under PayPal Buyer Protection. However, that won’t apply if scammers have set up a fake PayPal page you’ve made a payment to or if you’ve sent the money as ‘friends and family’.

In these instances, you should report the fraud but - says Stop Think Fraud - you should be prepared that you’re unlikely to get your money back.

After speaking first and foremost with their bank - anyone to have lost money or who has found their accounts hacked because they responded to a suspicious text message, should also report the case to Action Fraud which is the the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime and collects reports on behalf of the police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Alternatively, you can call 0300 123 2040 to log the crime.

For those who believe they are entitled to a refund from their bank but have their request refused, you can make a complaint in writing asking them to reconsider their decision.

For those unhappy with the way their bank has dealt with a claim, you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service whose investigators can decide if your bank or card provider hasn’t followed the rules. They could ask them to reimburse you and even pay compensation.