DVSA Issues Warning About Parking Fine Scam Text Messages

27th September 2024

The Scams just keep coming and cover more and more aspects of our lives. So you better assume that most unknown contacts have an ulterior motive to get your money. Just on TV today was the fact that the criminals are now cloning your voice made from any sample that you have put online meaning even a phone call may sound like it is from someone you know but is a scammer pretending - so be aware.

But here is today's scam from The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is warning that scammers are sending text messages about fake DVSA parking penalty charges.

The text messages warn people that they have a ‘parking penalty charge', and that if they do not pay on time, that they might:

be banned from driving
have to pay more
be taken to court

The text message 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 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 initial text message has been followed up with scam reminders:

DVSA Fixed Penalty Office:

Today is the last day to pay your ticket due to your long term delinquency, if you do not pay your ticket on time you may be required to pay more in the future and we reserve the right to prosecute you. Please be patient and open the link below to process your ticket.

Thank you again for your co-operation.

Another scam reminder says:

DVSA Fixed Penalty Office last notification :

You have not paid your ticket within the stipulated time. Today is the last time to notify you to pay. We will ban your car from driving on the road starting tomorrow and transfer your parking ticket to the court. Please wait until you receive the information. Process your ticket as soon as possible in the link.

Another scam message says:

EWHC notice for you you:

We are preparing to prosecute you for the materials handed over by DVSA. Because you have not pay your parking penalty charge for a long time. Today is the last day for payment.

If you do not pay within today, we will prosecute you. Please read the information and enter your license plate to check your parking ticket.

DVSA does not issue or deal with parking fines.

What to do if you received a message
You can report scam text messages to the National Cyber Security Centre.

Report a scam text message.
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message

You do not need to contact DVSA if you have received the text message.

If you've responded to a scam text message
If you've been tricked into sharing personal information with a scammer, you can take immediate steps to protect yourself.

Find out what to do if you think you've shared personal information.
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/what-to-do

If you've lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a suspicious text message, report it:

at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 (in England, Wales or Northern Ireland)

to Police Scotland by calling 101 (in Scotland)