Council warns of parking ticket scam

Orkney Islands Council’s Trading Standards Service are alerting members of the public to a parking ticket scam.

Trading Standards Manager with OIC, Gary Foubister has said the scam comes in the form of emails, purporting to be from UK Parking Control LTD (UKPC), which is a legitimate UK-based parking ticket company.

However, he said fraudsters are sending out emails from UKPC stating that a parking ticket has been generated and payment is due.

He said: “On first glance, these emails appear genuine. The email includes a randomly generated reference number, and quotes a charge of £90.  The email directs the recipient to a link in the mailing headed ‘payment details and photos’. Clicking on this link is likely to make the computer vulnerable to malware.”

Anyone who has been targeted by this scam, or suspects they have been the target or victim of any other online scam, can contact Trading Standards on 01856 873535 or by email to trading.standards@orkney.gov.uk for further advice.

Alternatively, it is also possible view information on recent scams and to report online scams through Action Fraud’s website -http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/.