Drivers across County Durham are being urged to be on their guard against parking scams.
Durham County Council has been made aware of a potential new scam which has occurred in a neighbouring authority area.
This involved someone claiming to be a civil enforcement officer and approaching members of the public to falsely issue parking fines and request they be paid to them in person.
Enforcement officers would never ask for payments to be made directly to them and always carry ID on their person, as well as having numbers on the shoulders of their uniform.
Penalty charge notices will either be attached to the vehicle’s windscreen, handed to the driver or issued to the vehicle’s registered keeper via post, with payment information included on the back of the notice.
Payments can then be made online, over an automated telephone line or at the council’s parking shop.
The council is also aware of three other scams circulating. These include:
Text messages being sent asking people to pay a parking fine.
People being asked to pay for parking via a QR code: If anyone witnesses a QR code in a council car park, they should contact the parking team, who will investigate and inform the police.
A text message asking people to pay an outstanding parking fine of £20, with a link to a ‘gov’ phone number.
The council will never issue a parking fine or contact a vehicle owner by text message.
If anyone has paid a fine following one of these scams, they should contact their bank to seek a resolution.
Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are aware of a number of parking-related fines circulating at the minute and we would encourage everyone to be vigilant.
“It’s important to remember that we would never contact vehicles owners by text or issue a parking fine in that way so we would ask that people don’t click on any suspicious links or use QR codes.
“By staying alert to these scams and being on our guard, we can help to put a stop to scammers and protect others from falling victim. Valid payment can only be made at our car parks and pay and display parking via cash or bank cards at the payment machines or using the reputable PaybyPhone app or website.”
More information on current frauds and scams circulating in County Durham can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/currentscams/
To find out more about council car parks or how to pay a car parking fine, visit durham.gov.uk/parking/
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
