Motorists warned about fake traffic wardens stealing drivers’ bank cards in new scam
DRIVERS have been warned to watch out for a new scam that sees fraudsters steal your bank card and PIN by pretending to be traffic wardens.
The fraud sees motorists approached in their car or in a car park by people dressed up as traffic wardens or police offers.
They're told they've parked illegally or broken a speed limit, and that a photo has been taken of their car for evidence.
Victims then hear that they face a hefty fine unless they pay a smaller upfront fee straight away.
But when they go to pay the smaller penalty at a nearby parking meter, the fraudster watches them enter their PIN before their card is "swallowed" by the machine.
The fraudsters later go back to the machine to fish out your card and spend on it.
How to protect yourself from traffic warden scams
ACTION Fraud reveals its top tips to stay safe against parking scammers:
- If you are suspicious about the authenticity of the fine, do not pay it until you have verified it with your local council.
- Always shield your PIN from view when using an ATM machine, and never share your PIN with anyone.
- If your bank card is retained by an ATM machine, contact your bank immediately and don't leave the ATM if possible.
Scam reporting agency Action Fraud says it's seen an "increased" number of people stung by this type of scam, with 33 incidents reported since January.
Of course, many more victims may be too embarrassed or didn't think to report the crime to Action Fraud, which means the numbers affected could be higher still.
Pauline Smith, head of Action Fraud, said: “This is a highly planned fraud that takes advantage of the pressure victims feel to pay the fine, especially by those who are elderly and vulnerable.
“It is important that people shield your PIN from view when using an ATM machine.
"We are urging people to be particularly cautious of anyone claiming to be from an official authority. If in doubt, verify the person’s identity with your local council or police force.”
It follows a similar warning from Wandsworth council in London earlier this year after it also found fraudsters dressing up traffic wardens to steal people's cash.
More on parking fines
In these cases, blue badge holders were told they needed to re-register their vehicle at parking machines, while on other occasions fraudsters ask to use the victim’s card in the ticket machine in exchange for cash.
If you're slapped with a genuine parking fine, you’ve now got a one in three chance of having a private parking charge cancelled – here’s how to appeal.
Plus, we've rounded-up all the parking "excuses" you can use to appeal a ticket and escape a fine.
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