How to spot scam parking ticket email and what to do if you receive it

Trading Standards officials in Hartlepool are warning residents to be on their guard for scam parking ticket emails.

Published 27th Sep 2020, 07:00 BST

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Bogus emails which carry the logo of HM Courts & Tribunals Service are said to be circulating stating the recipient has an outstanding Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and that if it isn’t paid soon the debt will increase.

Hartlepool Trading Standards and Licensing Manager Ian Harrison said: “This email is another scam and anyone receiving it should delete it immediately.

"Under no circumstances should they click the link that is contained within the message.

The bogus email carries the HM Courts and Tribunal logo but has numerous spelling mistakes and does not come from a government email address.

“Anyone who does have unpaid parking tickets will not receive a demand in this way. Although the email carries the official HM Courts logo, a close reading of the message will reveal spelling mistakes and that the email has been sent from a non-governmental email address.

“Bogus emails such as these are usually looking to either obtain money or to gain access to the recipient’s computer so that personal data and/or money can be stolen later.

"My advice is to delete any emails you receive from an unexpected source or that look, in any way, suspicious.”

It comes just days after Hartlepool Borough Council warned residents to be on their guard against a potential council tax scam linked to the coronavirus emergency.

An alert was issued after a London resident received a fake letter, seemingly from their local council, relating to a potential reduction in council tax and claiming it was part of the Government’s response to Covid-19.

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