UK drivers are being warned about a sophisticated scam involving fraudulent text messages that appear to come from the popular parking payment service RingGo. The messages claim that recipients have an outstanding parking charge and urge them to settle the amount immediately to avoid further penalties.
The scam text reads: “A routine review of open parking charges has identified an amount that is still due. To reduce the risk of further financial charges and any administrative action within our parking services, please arrange settlement promptly.” The message includes a link that directs users to a fake website designed to look exactly like the legitimate RingGo platform.
How the Scam Works
Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, explains the mechanics of the fraud. “The link is key because it sends you to a counterfeit page that almost mirrors the real RingGo site,” he said. “If you then put in your username, password or card details, it goes directly to the criminal gangs, who can drain accounts or sell on your personal information.”
Security expert Serpil Hall from Datos Insights highlights an additional layer of deception. “The moment someone replies, even with a single letter, iMessage reclassifies the sender as known, and the link becomes active,” she said. “The scammers are not guessing at this – they know the mechanics and are engineering around it deliberately.”
Why RingGo Is a Prime Target
Hall notes that the choice of RingGo is intentional. “Parking payment services are a well-worn target because the notification is plausible to almost any driver, the amounts involved are small enough not to trigger immediate scepticism, and there is a genuine sense of consequence attached to ignoring it.”
This combination of plausibility and urgency makes the scam particularly effective, catching even cautious drivers off guard. The fraudulent texts have been circulating widely, prompting warnings from automotive and cybersecurity experts alike.
How to Protect Yourself
If you receive a suspicious text, do not click on any links or reply to the message. Instead, verify your account directly through official channels. Open your RingGo app or go to myRingGo.co.uk and log in to check your Receipts/History. If your parking session shows as paid, your account is secure and you can ignore the text.
Should you receive such a message, you can report it to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding the text to 7726. This helps authorities track and shut down these criminal operations.
Expert Advice for Drivers
Conway advises drivers to remain vigilant. “Always double-check the sender’s details and never enter personal or financial information through a link in a text message,” he said. “It’s always safer to go directly to the official website or app.”
The scam serves as a reminder of the growing sophistication of phishing attempts. As more everyday services move online, criminals are finding new ways to exploit trust. Staying informed and cautious is the best defence.
