What parking scams should drivers look out for?

Drivers have been asked to remain vigilant as scammers are targeting people who are trying to park their cars.

Southampton City Council said once every two weeks it found fake QR codes attached to parking meters, leading to scam websites.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “It is an issue that has become more prevalent.”

He added that people should be “extra vigilant” and “make sure they are using the correct app and following the instructions on the pay meter”.

Richard Horton, service manager for parking and the Itchen Bridge for Southampton City Council, said they were working hard to tackle the issue.

He said: “As and when the QR codes are seen, we identify the websites, we go through to PayByPhone who have a method for making sure the websites are taken down as soon as possible and we raise awareness of the issue via social media.”

Southampton is not alone, as David Rutter from Bournemouth found out.

He got into trouble when he drove to meet a friend in Winchester.

“I turned up, parked in the car park, came over to use the meter and the meter was out of action," he said.

He said he scanned a QR code which took him to a fake RingGo site and took his bank details.

“I only realised about three hours after when I came back to get to my vehicle and found a parking charge from Winchester City Council on the windscreen of my car,” he said.

Mr Rutter said he double-checked the official RingGo website and found it did not match the one he had used.

He said scammers had registered him with18 unknown subscription websites, which were looking to take between £50 and £100 a week from his account.

Mr Rutter described the ordeal as “frustrating” but was able to alert his bank to all of the scam subscriptions before any money was taken.

He added he did still have to pay a £25 parking fee to the council.

In October, Winchester City Council said it removed eight fake QR codes from its machines.

The local authority said: “All the fake stickers we’ve been made aware of have been removed, and colleagues in our car parking team are regularly attending and inspecting machines to ensure any new stickers are removed at the earliest opportunity.

“We urge anyone who sees a sticker to report it to our parking team.”

In October, in Netley Abbey, Judy Theobald was nearly tricked by a text message which said she had a parking fine.

She said: "It said pay £20 now or if you wait a fortnight we're going to double it. It looked very official and it was the Government logo.

"I went on to the next page, put my number in and then when I checked the date of the alleged offence, I checked my diary and I'd not left my house that day."

Ms Theobald posted on social media to warn others of the scam and people across the country said they had received similar messages.

The Government said parking scams are the responsibility of local authorities and the police.

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