The fake penalty charge notices have been slapped on the windscreens of vehicles parked in streets across a Kent town – with the official-looking notices headed Parking Control Management Ltd
Motorists have been warned about fake penalty charge notices being left on vehicles across a UK town.
The fraudulent fines, which are being placed on windscreens by scammers in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, claim to be from ‘Parking Control Management Ltd’. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council also issued a warning about these counterfeit charges, labelling them as “fraudulent” and advising people not to follow the instructions given.
The fake fines demand payment of £120, or offer a discounted rate of £60 if paid within seven days. These sham penalties even include a reference for the “operative” who supposedly identified the “contravention”, along with a parking notice reference number, a QR code and a website.
However, eagle-eyed residents have spotted several errors that prove the fraudsters aren’t as smart as they think. One motorist who received one of the fake fines noted that it “looks dodgy”, highlighting the absence of a time or date, and a vehicle registration number.
Parking Control Management Ltd, a legitimate company based in Slough, Berkshire, confirmed with KentLive that fraudulent parking tickets bearing their name and logo have been found on vehicles in the Tunbridge Wells area. They stated: “We are aware of several fake parking tickets bearing our company name and logo being placed on vehicles in the Tunbridge Wells area. We can confirm that the tickets have not been issued by PCM and we have swiftly reported the scam to our Trade Association, Action Fraud, the DVLA and the payment provider cited on the tickets, SumUp.”
Stressing the urgency for motorists who received one of these fraudulent charges to contact Action Fraud instead of following the payment links/QR codes, they advised any motorist wishing to verify the authenticity of a parking charge to contact them urgently.
Meanwhile, the council warned on social media: “Fraudulent parking charge notices: This morning we’ve been informed that some motorists have discovered Parking Charge Notices from a private company on properly parked vehicles in Broadwater Down, Mount Sion and Goods Station Road in Tunbridge Wells. If you’ve got one on your car report it to the police and definitely don’t click on any links/QR codes.”
The council said people had also alerted them to fake fines on cars in Langton Road, Bayhall Road and another in Aldi’s car park, which is privately managed.
