Parking fine scam texts: how to tell if a PCN text is real

“You have an unpaid parking fine.” “Pay within 24 hours or extra fees apply.” Fake parking fine texts lead to a copy of a government website that asks for your card details. UK councils say they never send parking fines by text. Paste the text below to see where its link really goes before you tap.

Updated 16 October 2026 · 3 min read

Check a parking text now

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Paste the parking text

Copy the whole text and paste it here, or paste just the link. Peekray picks out the links (up to 8) and shows where each one really goes, with a clear answer such as Safe, Check first or Scam.

To copy a text, press and hold the message, then tap Copy.

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Got a QR code?

Check it before you open it. The code is read in your browser, and only a web address in it is sent for checking.

The facts

How real parking fines reach you

  • UK

    Councils

    A council parking fine (a Penalty Charge Notice, or PCN) is fixed to your car, handed to you or sent by post. Councils including Lambeth, Wandsworth and York say they never text you about a PCN.

  • UK

    Private car parks

    A parking charge notice from a car park firm comes by post, addressed to you, with your registration number and what you’re said to have done. Which? says parking firms don’t have your phone number to text you.

  • UK

    DVSA

    The DVSA runs driving tests and MOTs. It doesn’t issue parking tickets or fines, so a “DVSA parking penalty” text is fake.

  • UK

    Parking apps

    RingGo has warned about fake texts pretending to be from it about unpaid balances. To check your account, open the app or type the address yourself, such as myringgo.co.uk.

Spot it

Four signs of a fake parking fine text

  1. 01

    A text asking you to pay a fine

    Councils say they never text you about a parking fine, and parking firms don’t have your number. A text asking you to pay one is the red flag.

  2. 02

    Threats and a deadline

    “Pay within 24 hours,” extra fees, damage to your credit file, court, or your car being banned from driving. You can’t be banned from driving over an unpaid parking fine. The threats are there to rush you.

  3. 03

    Wrong names

    “Parking penalty charge” isn’t a real name (it’s a Penalty Charge Notice or a parking charge notice), and the DVSA doesn’t deal with parking fines. Odd spacing and capitals are another clue.

  4. 04

    A GOV.UK lookalike on the wrong address

    The fake site copies GOV.UK closely and makes up a fine for any number plate you type. The address gives it away: real council and government sites end in .gov.uk. Paste the text above to see where the link really goes.

QR codes on parking machines, too

Got one?

What to do with a parking fine text

  1. 1

    Don’t tap the link or reply.

  2. 2

    If you think you might really owe a fine, look for the paper notice or letter. It has a PCN number and your registration. Pay on your council’s own website, typed in yourself, or in your parking app.

  3. 3

    Report the text (see below), then delete it.

Already paid? What to do now

Report it

Where to report a parking fine scam (UK)

In the UK

Any scam text
Forward it to 7726. It’s free.
The fake website
Report it to the National Cyber Security Centre so it can be taken down.
It names your council
Tell your council too. Some, like Wandsworth, ask for this so they can warn others.
Lost money
Tell your bank, then report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Let Peekray do it

Check the next parking fine text before you pay.

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FAQ

Common questions

Do councils send parking fines by text?

No. Councils such as Lambeth, Wandsworth and York say they never text you about a parking fine. A real Penalty Charge Notice is fixed to your car, handed to you or sent by post.

Does the DVSA send parking fine texts?

No. The DVSA doesn’t issue parking tickets or fines at all. It runs driving tests and MOTs, and has warned that “parking penalty charge” texts using its name are fake.

Can my car be banned from driving over an unpaid parking fine?

No. Which? says neither you nor your car can be banned from driving over an unpaid parking fine. Scam texts say this to scare you into paying.

Is a RingGo text about an unpaid balance a scam?

Treat it as one. RingGo has warned about a wave of fake texts pretending to be from it. Don’t tap the link: open the RingGo app or type myringgo.co.uk yourself to check your account.

I paid a fine from a text. What now?

Call your bank now on the number on the back of your card (in the UK you can also dial 159), and tell them you entered your card details on a scam site. Expect follow-up calls or texts that use your name and address, and hang up on anyone saying they’re your bank. Peekray’s guide to what to do after a scam link takes you through the rest.

Does Peekray read my messages?

No. When you paste a message, Peekray picks out the links on your device and sends only those web addresses to its server to check. The rest of the message isn’t sent.

Sources

Where this advice comes from

Guides

More help