Motorists have been urged to “be on their guard” against a parking fine text scam doing the rounds.

Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service issued the warning after some residents reported receiving a scam message.

The message issues a fake ‘final reminder’ about an ‘outstanding toll’ and provides a link to make a payment – but it doesn’t give any further details of when or where the ‘offence’ took place or even the council which supposedly issued the fine.

An example of the scam text reads: “Dvsa notice for you: You have a penalty charge due on 2024/9/30. If you do not pay your fine on time, Your car may be banned from driving. you might [have] to pay to more, or you could be taken to court. Please enter your license plate in the link after reading the information. Check and pay [parking] penalty charge. Thank you again for your [cooperation]. Dvsa.”

Janet Quinn, the scams lead for Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service said the aim of the message was to steal personal and financial information.

She added: “In this case there are a number of pointers that show it’s a scam.

“It’s generic, the grammar, spelling and wording is poor and uses words such as ‘toll’ and not fine or penalty charge notice which is what you would expect if this was a genuine reminder.

“It also gives strange instructions such as telling you to reply, then close and re-open the message to activate the link.

“So, if you get a message like this, always think, could it be a scam? And don’t click on the link.”

“Remember, you will be get notified about a parking fine by a ticket on your car or a letter in the post, never by a text message.”

Report a scam text by forwarding it to 7726.