MOTORISTS across Warwickshire are warned to be on their guard against a parking scam.
A number of residents have contacted local councillors after being falsely targeted via email with Penalty Charge Notices for parking offences.
The email contain a link to a site where they can make the payment.
Other residents have reported being contacted via text with a similar scam around off-street parking in Warwick District Council’s car parks.
Warwickshire County Council has confirmed it does not send text messages regarding payment of Penalty Charge Notices. PCNs are issued by affixing the notice to the vehicle’s windscreen unless a Civil Enforcement Officer is prevented from issuing it, in which case the notice is sent by post.
When a notice is issued, the council does not know whose vehicle it is.
If the charge remains unpaid (or has not been successfully challenged) after 28 days following its issue, the council obtains details (name and address) of the registered keeper from the DVLA. Then a Notice to Owner is sent by post.
WCC does not know the vehicle owner’s phone number or email address, unless they later contact them and provide such information.
When a PCN has been issued by WCC, the way to pay online is at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/parking (as well by post or telephone), and this information is printed on the notice.
WCC’s transport spokesperson Coun Jan Matecki said: “This scam which attempts to trick residents into paying fines for parking is despicable and I cannot stress enough that residents should not click on the link or engage with it.
“Genuine Penalty Charge Notices, issued by the county council only ever take the form of a notice issued to the vehicle. We do not contact the vehicle owner until either the deadline for payment of the PCN has passed or they contact us.
“I urge residents to share this information in their communities to get the message out more widely and help to protect their friends and neighbours against this scam.”
