Parking Fine Scams - Trading Standards

31st July 2025

There has recently been a huge increase in reports of scam text messages relating to parking fines.

The messages typically say that an unpaid parking fine has been found on your vehicle and this is a 'final warning'.

You are asked to click on a link to pay the fine within 24 hours.

The messages do not say where you are supposed to have parked and don't include any details about the company issuing the fine.

Some drivers have also received text messages asking them to pay a Parking Penalty Charge Notice issued by the local council. The message says that if they do not pay within 28 days they will incur a 50% surcharge and that, if the fine is not paid, they will be prosecuted or their details will be passed to a debt collection agency.

Links in these messages lead to a spoof website which uses government logos and branding and asks you to enter your registration number and card details to pay the fine. In some cases you may be asked to contact an email address to pay the fine.

How to Avoid
Don't click links or use contact details provided in unexpected messages.

Be suspicious of any unexpected message which appears to be from a government agency or official organisation and tells you that you must provide your details or a payment within a certain time frame.

In Scotland, you could get a parking fine from different sources:
A police officer or traffic warden can fix a penalty notice to your car - the notice will tell you how and when to pay the fine
A parking attendant employed by the local council can give you a penalty charge notice. The attendant must give you the notice or fix it to your vehicle. Again, the notice will tell you how and when to pay, or you can phone the local council to find out more.
You could get a parking ticket on private land - this is called a Parking Charge Notice (PCN). You might get a ticket on your windscreen or in the post. This should state the name of the landowner or company that has issued the ticket.
If you are searching online for contact details or information about any government services, make sure that the address of the website you are visiting ends in GOV.UK

Find out More
Information from Citizens Advice Scotland on paying parking fines in Scotland: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/law-and-courts/parking-tickets
UK Government advice on avoiding and reporting phishing messages: www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing