Latest Scam Alert

Dear Resident,

Parking fine scam text.

A scam text telling you that you're being fined for 'leaving your car engine on' goes on to give you a short deadline to make this payment or face penalties and even prosecution.

The text includes a dodgy link to pay your fine, which will lead to a malicious website intent on stealing your personal and financial data.

You can report scam texts by forwarding the message to 7726.

Dodgy websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre.

A global crime network behind QR code car parking scams has been revealed.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism alongside global media companies have found that some QR code scams in British car parks are part of an international fraud network centring around a business in Dubai.

They also discovered that the scam operation uses shell companies - businesses which exist but don't carry out any business operations - in the UK and Cyprus to retrieve funds from targets around the world.

Victims of the QR code car park scams report being signed up to a movie, music or fitness subscription after scanning dodgy QR codes.

When looking to pay for parking at a car park, initially check the display board to see the payment method.

If you are able to pay via a QR code, look for evidence of tampering, use your in-built scanner on your phone's camera instead of an app to scan the code.

You should also preview the web address the QR code leads to before following it. When you scan it, the address should come up before you’re redirected to it.

British Gas impersonation email.

A scam email claiming to be from British Gas addresses you by your email address and goes on to claim that your direct debit payment hasn't gone through.

It then provides a dodgy link to pay the remaining balance.

This will lead to a malicious website designed to steal your personal and financial information.

Suspicious emails can be reported by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Dodgy websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre.

If you have been a victim of a scam, then report it to Action Fraud or by calling 03001232040, alternatively by call Humberside Police via 101.

Regards,

Brigg NPT