Parking fine scam texts: the fake RingGo and ParkingEye messages

What the texts say

Which? has reported several versions since July 2026. All of them ask you to pay an unpaid parking charge through a link:

• 14 July 2026: a text claiming your "parking payment remains outstanding from your latest parking activity", with a link to a fake RingGo website that has "ringgo" inside its address.
• 12 August 2026: a text from a spoofed UK mobile number saying your parking payment to ParkingEye has not been received, and that you must follow a link to pay or face additional charges.
• 24 September 2026: a Which? reader's text claiming an unpaid parking balance linked to their number plate, fines if they did not pay within 24 hours, and a block on using RingGo. The link asked for the registration number and a payment.

RingGo itself says it has noticed a wave of fake texts that usually claim you have an "outstanding parking payment" or an "unpaid parking session". Which? says the text has clearly been sent to huge numbers of people, and that RingGo now shows a banner about the scam on its website.

The trick is not new. In September 2024 Which? followed a parking fine text to a convincing copy of a GOV.UK page. Whatever registration it typed in, the fake site produced a PCN number and a £25 fine, then asked for personal and payment details.

Why it works

Which? points out that so many people have paid for parking with RingGo or a similar app that a message about an unpaid session sounds plausible. The short deadline pushes you to pay before you check, and the details are easy to miss unless you look closely at the link. Which? says the aim is your payment details, and there may be an identity theft element too: fraudsters can use your personal information to buy goods and services in your name, or to target you with further scams.

How to tell it is fake

• The link. RingGo says fake links will not point to its official website. A brand name inside a longer or odd web address is not the brand's site.
• The sender. RingGo says it will never text you from a generic or personal email address, such as a Gmail or Yahoo account.
• The request. RingGo says it will never ask you to reply with a letter such as "Y", or to copy a link into your browser to activate it.
• The deadline. A threat of fines within hours is the urgency the NCSC lists as a sign of a scam: criminals often threaten you with fines or other negative consequences.

How real parking fines work

GOV.UK says you usually have 28 days to pay a parking ticket or penalty charge notice (PCN), and in some cases the fine is reduced if you pay within 14 days. A council PCN is received on the spot, for example on your windscreen, or in the post. The same GOV.UK page covers PCNs for the London congestion charge, the low emission zone and the Dartford Crossing (Dart Charge), and links to where to pay each one online.

Tickets from private companies, such as supermarket car parks, have their own deadlines and ways to pay; GOV.UK says to check the ticket or contact the ticket issuer. So a demand to pay within hours, through a link in a text, does not match how a council PCN works.

How to check safely

1. Do not tap the link and do not reply.
2. If you use RingGo, open the app or type myringgo.co.uk into your browser yourself, log in and look at Receipts / History. RingGo says that if the session shows as paid there, your account is fine.
3. For any other parking company or council, use the details on the ticket, or its official website with the address typed in yourself.
4. Forward the text to 7726, then delete it. Report the fake website to the NCSC.

If you already paid or entered your details

Which? says anyone who shared personal or payment information through such a link should contact their bank immediately and change all relevant passwords. Call the bank on the number on your card or on 159 (see how 159 works). Then report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040; in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Paste any parking text into the scam text checker: it flags parking and road charge wording, links that borrow a brand name, and deadlines. Fake DVLA messages about vehicle tax use the same trick; see DVLA scam texts.

Sources

• Which?, RingGo text (24 Sep 2026): Which?, 'Is this RingGo text a scam?' (24 September 2026): reader's text "says there's an unpaid parking balance linked to my car's number plate, and that I'll start to receive fines if I don't pay within 24 hours. It also warns that I'll be blocked from using RingGo if I don't pay"; Which?: "This is a scam and is perfectly pitched to catch people out, because so many of us have paid for parking using RingGo or a similar app at some stage. The message sounds plausible unless you take the time to scrutinise the details (such as the slightly dodgy-looking link in the message). ... RingGo itself has warned of a 'wave of fake messages targeting drivers by pretending to be from [us]'. It's so concerned that it now displays a banner about the scam on its website. These messages aim to trick you into sharing your payment details. There may also be an identity theft element, with fraudsters stealing personal information to buy goods and services in your name, or target you with further scams. ... Anyone who shares personal or payment information via the link in such texts should contact their bank immediately and change all relevant passwords." — https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/is-this-ringgo-text-a-scam-aPH9a3T87exb, read on 2026-09-30
• Which? scam alerts, parking texts (Jul-Aug 2026): Which? scam alerts, 14 July 2026: "a sneaky scam text that claims your 'parking payment remains outstanding from your latest parking activity' ... This is followed by a link to a fake RingGo website that sneakily contains 'ringgo' within the address."; 12 August 2026: "Sent from a spoofed UK mobile number, a scam text claiming that your parking payment hasn't been received by parking company ParkingEye is circulating. It says you need to follow a link to complete the payment or face additional charges." — https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/the-latest-scam-alerts-from-which-aBRLy2b02WkC, read on 2026-09-30
• RingGo, fake texts: RingGo, Staying Safe from Fake RingGo Texts (help centre): "These messages usually claim that you have an 'outstanding parking payment' or an 'unpaid parking session.' ... RingGo will never text you from a generic or personal email address (like a Gmail or Yahoo account). ... Fake links will not point to our official website ... The text might ask you to reply with a letter like 'Y' or tell you to copy a link into your internet browser (Safari or Chrome) to activate it. We will never ask you to do this. ... Open your official RingGo app or go directly to myRingGo.co.uk. Log into your account and check your Receipts / History." — https://help.myringgo.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/28559681255452-Staying-Safe-from-Fake-RingGo-Texts, read on 2026-09-30
• Which?, parking fine texts (Sep 2024): Which?, 'Scam alert: new parking fine scam text' (4 September 2024): "Both text messages led to a very convincing copy of the official government website ... We wrote random characters into the 'vehicle registration' box and each time were given a bogus PCN number and told we owed a £25 fine. ... After this page, you're asked for more personal and payment data" — https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/scam-alert-new-parking-fine-scam-text-aj5wx1j3trT1, read on 2026-09-30
• GOV.UK, parking fines and PCNs: GOV.UK, Parking fines and penalty charge notices: "You usually have 28 days to pay. In some cases, the fine is reduced if you pay within 14 days. ... not paying the charge for the London congestion zone, low emission zone or Dartford Crossing (Dart Charge) on time ... Local council PCN - received on the spot, for example on your windscreen ... Local council PCN - received in the post ... tickets from private companies, for example from supermarket car parks: check the ticket or contact the ticket issuer" — https://www.gov.uk/parking-tickets, read on 2026-09-30
• NCSC, spotting scams: NCSC, How to spot a scam email, text message or call: "Urgency: Are you told you have a limited time to respond (such as 'within 24 hours' or 'immediately')? Criminals often threaten you with fines or other negative consequences." — https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/spot-scams, read on 2026-09-29
• NCSC, forwarding to 7726: NCSC, Report a scam text: "Most phone providers are part of a scheme that allows customers to report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding it to 7726. If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender, if it's found to be malicious." — https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message, read on 2026-09-29
• Stop! Think Fraud, reporting: Stop! Think Fraud (UK Government campaign), Reporting fraud: "Report suspicious phone calls and text messages free of charge to 7726. To report a phone call, simply send a text to 7726 with the word 'Call' followed by the scam caller's number. ... If you've lost money or you think a fraudster has access to your bank account, tell your bank ... Always contact them directly using a known email or phone number, such as the ones shown on their website or the back of your card, or call 159. ... contact any other relevant organisation ... an organisation whose name was falsely used in the fraud (such as an energy provider or Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) ... Before you delete the email, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk ... Report suspicious websites to the National Cyber Security Centre" — https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/reporting-fraud/, read on 2026-09-30
• Report Fraud: Action Fraud / City of London Police press release, 4 Dec 2025: "From Thursday 4 December 2025, anyone needing to report cyber crime or fraud will be directed to our new Report Fraud service. Report Fraud has replaced Action Fraud, for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People affected by cyber crime or fraud in Scotland should continue to call Police Scotland using the 101 telephone number. ... reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040." — https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Report+Fraud+service+goes+live+04122025143000; https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/, read on 2026-09-29