Motorists have been alerted to fraudulent text messages requesting payment for alleged parking violations.

The communications purport to originate from parking management firm ParkingEye and instruct recipients to resolve an outstanding charge through an embedded link.

According to ParkingEye, the company does not dispatch parking charge notices via text message or electronic mail, confirming the communications are deceptive.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that ParkingEye does not send parking charges through text messages or emails.

Vehicle owners have been advised to refrain from selecting any links contained within the messages, responding to senders, or submitting any personal details.

While the phrasing of the deceptive texts may differ, they generally assert that a parking payment remains unsettled and caution that further fees or administrative limitations will follow if settlement is not processed promptly.

An example of one such communication indicated that according to their records, the parking fee associated with the recipient’s vehicle has not been successfully settled, and to avoid additional charges and any administrative restrictions, they should complete payment at their earliest convenience.

Those receiving such messages should forward them to 7726, a complimentary reporting mechanism that informs mobile network operators to enable investigation and blocking of the sender.

Recipients should subsequently remove the message from their device.

Suspected fraudulent activity can additionally be reported to Action Fraud through actionfraud.police.uk or by dialling 0300 123 2040.

Thames Valley Police clarified that legitimate parking charge notices arrive exclusively through postal delivery and contain a reference number, location details, date, and explicit guidance for payment or dispute submission.