Portsmouth Trading Standards Service has issued an urgent warning about fraudulent penalty charge notice text messages targeting local residents.
The scam messages claim recipients have outstanding traffic tickets with payment deadlines approaching 28th June 2025. The fraudulent texts warn that failure to pay may result in additional fines, interest charges, prosecution, and damage to credit scores.
How the Scam Works
The deceptive messages instruct recipients to enter their car registration details through a suspicious link, falsely claiming there is no charge for accessing the information. The texts use urgent language, stating: “Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid licence suspension and further legal trouble.”
The scam messages typically include shortened URLs that redirect users to fake payment websites designed to harvest personal and financial information.
Warning Signs
Portsmouth Trading Standards advises residents to watch for these red flags:
- Unexpected text messages about parking fines
- Urgent payment demands with tight deadlines
- Requests for car registration numbers via text links
- Threats of licence suspension and legal action
- Use of shortened or suspicious web addresses
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Official Advice
Legitimate penalty charge notices are issued through official postal services, not via text message. Residents who receive suspicious parking fine texts should delete them immediately without clicking any links or providing personal information.
Anyone who believes they may have fallen victim to this scam should contact Portsmouth Trading Standards Service and their bank immediately.
