Motorists in the North West are being warned to be vigilant about a scam regarding car parking fines – and to not make any financial payment over the Internet in reply to an email they receive claiming to be from the Central Ticket Agency.
The warning comes from Jim MKeever, former SDLP Derry city councillor and Faughan candidate in the upcoming local government election.
Mr McKeever was speaking after he was contacted by a constituent with details of what he said seemed to be an “elaborate scam” around car parking fines.
Mr McKeever said: “The constituent in question received a message to her private email stating that her husband’s vehicle had been parked illegally in Limavady a few weeks previously, and as there had been no contact or payment received the bill was now at £100 and would increase by a further £40 if not paid immediately.
“The couple were able to establish that neither of them had been in that area on the date given and checked with the PSNI who, in turn, put them in direct contact with the Central Ticket Agency.
“The Central Ticket Agency confirmed that they only send out letters – not emails – in such cases and to never send money to any such demand through emails.”
Mr McKeever said “another very worrying aspect” of the incident was that the perpetrator was able to link the wife’s email address and her husband’s vehicle details to make the demand seem even more realistic.
He concluded: “I am therefore urging people to be vigilant – and would encourage anyone who receives such an email or demand for money to report it immediately to the PSNI.”
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