Victims lose up to £400 in fake parking fine scams

Parking fines sent by text or email in recent weeks in York were fake, the city council says

Drivers are being warned to "stay vigilant" after scammers targeted pay and display ticket machines in York to steal hundreds of pounds.

City of York Council said fraudsters had placed fake QR codes onto signage and ticket machines at eight council-run car parks in recent months.

The authority warned the fake codes contained texted information about spurious Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), and directed users to a counterfeit website urging them to click a link to pay a fine.

A council spokesperson said PCNs were only ever fixed to vehicles or posted and advised those who received a fine by text or email to contact the council's anti-fraud team.

The council said fake QR codes had been placed in the Castle, Nunnery Lane, St George's Field, Bootham Row, Monk Bar, Marygate, Union Terrace and Bishopthorpe Road car parks.

They often look real and sometimes display the legitimate PayByPhone parking service logo.

Once on the fake site, victims were asked to enter their card details.

Reports to the council's Veritau anti-fraud team suggest people had lost "up to £400" as a result of the scam.

Councillor Katie Lomas, who has the portfolio for fraud at City of York Council, said: "If you receive a parking fine by text or email, or if you come across fake or suspicious-looking QR codes in our car parks, please contact Veritau."

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