PCN - Penalty Charge Notice Scams in UK

Do you know how many PCN scams are happening in UK? In the first quarter of 2025 – Action Fraud 502 reports of QR code scams targeting drivers. How do this many scams happen? What you should know about these in order to be safe and protected? Lets discuss PCN scams in this article

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PCN – Penalty Charge Notice Scams in UK

PCN Scams are fraud attempts in which criminals or frauds make you believe that you owe a genuine parking fine or Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). The common methods of phishing are text messages and fraudulent links to copycat websites. There are mainly three types of PCN Scams, Let’s see one by one

Fake SMS Text Messages
Copycat Website links
QR Code Scams

What do scammers try to steal from these methods?

Fake SMS Text Messages

In fake SMS Text Messages, as per gov website, the scammers sent you a text message stating that you have a overdue PCN and will threaten you to proceed with increased charges, driving ban or court action if you do not follow the link (to their copycat website) and take necessary action

Copycat Website links

You also may get a website link which will look very similar to UK GOV website to your email and this website will inturn ask your email, vehicle registration number, personal info and bank card details for making the payment. Once you fall prey to these they will have everything to rob your account.

QR Code Scams

This is the most popular PCN Scam type in recent times. Fraudsters stuck fake QR code to parking signs and machines. Public who thinks that they are paying to the right qr code will end up losing their money. These QR Codes leads to bogus payment sites.

How to identify the PCN Scams?

Now we are discussing about how to rightly identify the scams vs genuine ones. Make note of these,

Official authorities do not send payment requests by text message.
Threatening language with urgency is usually from scammers than from government
Check the website link – All the uk government website ends with “.gov.uk”, anything else is to be treated as suspicious
No local council (who normally issues PCN) will ask for your bank details via a sms link.

How are real PCN – Penalty Charge Notice issued in UK?

PCN is normally issued by following ways,

Issued by a civil enforcement officer on your vehicle which committed the offence.
Posted to registered keeper’s address
All PCN should have details such as time, date and location of the offence
All PCN Should be issued within 14 days of offence
PCN should also contain information about details on how to pay or appeal
Council don’t chase you with random text messages or emails for payments

What to do if you are getting PCN scam messages on your phone?

Do not open the link
Do not enter personal or payment information
Never attempt to call the number provided
Do delete the message immediately
Forward message to 7726 which will helps mobile networks identify scammers
Report to Action Fraud (UK Police fraud reporting service)
If you accidentally entered any information, contact your bank immediately

Hope this article helped you to learn about common PCN scams in UK. If you loved this article please share it with your friends who will benefit from reading this.

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