Beware of Fake Penalty Charges in Tunbridge Wells
Fraudulent parking fines are being placed on windscreens of vehicles in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, by scammers claiming to be from ‘Parking Control Management Ltd.’ These fake fines demand payment of £120 or a discounted rate of £60 within seven days. The notices include a reference for the ‘operative’ who supposedly identified the ‘contravention,’ a parking notice reference number, a QR code, and a website.
However, residents have spotted several errors that indicate the fraudsters are not as clever as they think. One motorist who received a fake fine noted that it lacked a time or date and a vehicle registration number.
Parking Control Management Ltd., a legitimate company based in Slough, Berkshire, has confirmed that fake parking tickets bearing their name and logo have been found in the Tunbridge Wells area. They have reported the scam to their Trade Association, Action Fraud, the DVLA, and the payment provider cited on the tickets, SumUp.
The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has also issued a warning about these counterfeit charges, labeling them as ‘fraudulent’ and advising people not to follow the instructions given. They have urged anyone who has received one of these fake fines to contact Action Fraud instead of following the payment links or QR codes.
The council has also been alerted to fake fines on cars in Langton Road, Bayhall Road, and Aldi’s car park, which is privately managed. Motorists are advised to be vigilant and contact the authorities if they receive a suspicious parking charge notice.
