Drivers are being urged to stay alert as cunning new scams targeting UK road users are on the rise. Motoring experts at LeaseLoco.com have revealed five key tricks fraudsters are using – from tampered QR codes on parking meters to convincing fake DVLA messages – and are warning Brits to stay vigilant or risk losing their hard-earned cash.
While younger drivers aged 25-34 are the most common victims of vehicle-related scams like used car fraud and bogus insurance deals, older motorists are increasingly being targeted too. Fraudsters are preying on their uncertainty around online payments to issue fake parking fines.
Driving scams to be aware of
QR codes on parking meters
Scammers are placing QR code stickers onto parking meters in the hopes of tricking motorists to scan the code and ‘pay’ for their parking. To avoid being caught out, stick to using official car parking apps such as RingGo and PayByPhone. It’s also worth noting that most councils won’t use QR codes for payment, but will instead provide a machine or stick to apps.
DVLA messages
Fake DVLA messages often state that your license needs updating or that your car tax has failed, forcing you to hand over sensitive information. Remember that the DVLA will never ask for money or personal information via email or text. Never click on any links within these messages and only access the DVLA website through gov.uk.
PCN fines
Scammers may send fake parking charge notices to your house by post, urging you to pay a fake parking charge before the fine increases. A real PCN notice will have the date, time and location of your alleged violation. If you’re still unsure whether your letter is real or not, you can contact the council’s parking department to check if the fine is genuine.
Used car sales
Be wary of any car deals that look too good to be true on online marketplaces. In 2023, nearly half a million pounds was reported as lost to Facebook car scams.
John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco, said: “Unfortunately driving-related scams are really common and they work well for fraudsters because they can create a sense of urgency. A lot of these scams will urge you to quickly pay a fee to avoid facing bigger fines. When we see something like this we often rush to get the payment done rather than stopping and checking the legitimacy of the message or letter. The good news is there are ways to spot these scams which can prevent you from losing any money. For example, if you’ve been contacted via text message to pay a fine, be conscious of who it is from. Organisations like the DVLA will never ask for money or personal information on a text message. By taking a moment to verify the legitimacy of these alerts you could save yourself from losing out on potentially thousands of pounds.”
