North Yorkshire Police has warned residents of bogus parking fines following a number of reports.
A scam is doing the rounds in our area in which motorists are getting a text telling them to pay a parking fine
North Yorkshire Police have received six reports in the last week.
The message includes a link to pay, and suggests the fine will increase if not paid within 28 days.
The messages come from mobile numbers starting 07, and the link takes the user to a website that looks like an official Government one.
One example included the words “you’re in trouble with your local council” – a turn of phrase which made the recipient suspect it wasn’t genuine.
Another example referred to a location where the recipient definitely hadn’t been.
A police spokesperson said:
“The good news is none of the six people who reported it to us handed over any money. But others out there may not have been so vigilant.
“So please, share this warning with friends and family.
“If you receive an unexpected message with a link, be extremely cautious – think carefully before you do anything, and delete it if you’re not 100% certain it’s legitimate.”