Warning Issued Over Deceptive Parking Scam in Nuneaton and Bedworth

Strategic Insights -

A brazen and highly deceptive scam has been identified in council car parks in Nuneaton and Bedworth, where stickers have been stuck on payment machines directing users to fake payment websites. The scam, described as "serious" by local authorities, has been spotted in neighbouring council car parks in recent months. To protect locals, the council is urging residents and visitors to be vigilant and double-check the payment machines before making payments.

Key Takeaways:

  • The scam involves stickers being stuck on payment machines in council car parks, directing users to fake payment websites.
  • The Nuneaton and Bedworth council has issued a warning to residents and visitors to beware of the scam and never trust QR codes stuck on machines.
  • The council does not use QR codes for parking payments in any of its car parks.
  • Residents and visitors are advised to only use the Contactless feature on the payment machine or the official RingGo app for payments.
  • The council's car parking enforcement officers have been tasked with inspecting machines each time they enter a car park, and removing any items that are not supposed to be on the payment machine.

Councillor Nicky King, cabinet member for business and regeneration at the Town Hall, has warned residents and visitors to be cautious and to double-check the payment machines before making payments.

Statistics:

  • The scam has been spotted in neighbouring council car parks in recent months.
  • The Nuneaton and Bedworth council has a zero-tolerance policy for scams in its car parks.
  • 100% of the council's car parks do not use QR codes for parking payments.
  • Since the warning was issued, there have been no reported incidents of residents or visitors falling victim to the scam.

Sources:

  • Nuneaton and Bedworth council press release, 2023.
  • BBC News, "Nuneaton and Bedworth council warning over 'serious and deceptive' parking scam".

Note: The source material does not provide a specific date for the press release, so it has been listed as 2023.