An OnTheWight reader got in touch today with details of a new scam doing the rounds.
We’ve all seen the QR code sticker scam on parking ticket machines over recent weeks. It seems the scammers have expanded their practices and now sending text message scams too.
Outstanding penalty notice
The reader, let’s call him John, said he received a text on Monday afternoon which claimed he had a £20 outstanding penalty notice and it was the last day to pay before the fine doubled.
John explained,
“Without thinking, I filled out all my credit card details and then the website starts going wonky.
“After about five goes it suddenly dawned on me that this isn’t real, so I called the Isle of Wight council to ask whether it was them who’d sent me the demand, the guy at the other end said, ‘Oh no, there’s a scam going around’.
“I hadn’t heard about it and consider myself clued up on things like this … obviously not … but I thought others should know.”
“It all looked legitimate”
John said all the usual information was asked for, such as registration number, etc but once his credit card details had been added, the website kept coming up with an error – even though the site looked legitimate and even linked to the Treasury Office, John said.
John immediately called his credit card company to stop the card once her realised he’d been scammed.
Don’t click on questionable links
So beware, if you receive a text message (or email) like this, never click on the links. Go to the legitimate source to check whether the message (or email) is a scam or not.
Although this latest scam is not listed on the council’s website, it’s always worth checking there, and reporting any incidents to Trading Standards.
