The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a warning about fraudulent text messages being sent to individuals, falsely claiming they owe parking fines.

Details of the scam

The scam messages tell recipients that they have an outstanding ‘parking penalty charge’ and imply that failure to pay could result in serious consequences, such as:

• A driving ban
• Increased fines
• Court action

One version of the fraudulent text reads as follows:

“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 parking penalty charge. Thank you again for your cooperation. Dvsa.”

Scam follow-up messages

The initial scam message is often followed by additional fake notifications, pressuring recipients to act quickly:

1. DVSA fixed penalty office reminder - "Today is the last day to pay your ticket due to long-term delinquency. If payment isn’t made, you may face higher penalties, and we may initiate legal action. Please use the link provided to process your ticket. Thank you for your cooperation."
2. Final notification - "This is your last opportunity to pay your parking penalty. Failure to do so will result in your vehicle being banned from the road, and your ticket will be handed over to the court."
3. EWHC prosecution threat - "We are preparing to prosecute you based on materials submitted by DVSA due to non-payment of your parking fine. Today is your final chance to avoid legal action."

Important note: DVSA does not handle parking fines

It’s important to remember that the DVSA is not responsible for issuing or managing parking fines. If you receive such a message, it is a scam.

What to do if you receive a scam message

If you’ve received a suspicious text, you can report it to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). There’s no need to contact the DVSA directly.

Steps to take if you’ve responded to a scam

If you’ve mistakenly shared personal information, it’s essential to take action immediately to protect your data. Guidance on what to do if you’ve shared personal information with scammers is available.

For those who have lost money or experienced hacking after engaging with a scam message, you should report the incident:

• Visit Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040 if you’re in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
• In Scotland, contact Police Scotland at 101.