Motorists are being warned of scam parking fine text messages that threaten to ban you from driving if you don’t pay.
Not long after it was revealed that Manchester has topped the list of UK places where motorists are most likely to get a parking fine, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is now warning of a fake text messages currently circulating nationwide that threaten recipients with a series of frightening measures if they don’t pay.
The scam messages in question warn people that they have a ‘parking penalty charge’, and that if they do not pay on time, they might have to pay more or be taken to court.
It even threatens to ban people from driving if they don’t fork out the fine money.
⚠️We’re aware of people still receiving text messages on parking fine claiming to be from DVSA.
This is a scam. Find out what to do if you received this text message at 👇 https://t.co/mKShfEw5Oc
The initial text message sent out by the scammers pretending to be the DVSA reads: “Dvsa notice for you: You have a parking 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 haeve to pay more, or you could be taken to court.
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“Please enter your license plate in the link after reading the information, Check and pay parcking penatly charge. Thank you again for your copperation. Dvsa.”
Recipients of the texts have noted that there are several spelling mistakes included in the copy, including ‘haeve’, ‘parcking’, and ‘copperation’, all of which indicate that the message isn’t from a genuine Government source.
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Follow-up reminder scam messages have also been sent to some phones as well, which claim: “Today is the last day to pay your ticket due to your long term delinquency” and “if you do not pay your ticket on time, you may be required to pay more in the future and we reserve the right to prosecute you”.
Another follow-up message also threatens to “ban your car from driving on the road starting tomorrow” and fake notification that authorities will “transfer your parking ticket to the court”.
The DVSA wants motorists to know it does not issue or deal with parking fines.
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If you’ve received one of these scam text messages, you are encouraged to report it to the National Cyber Security Centre here, and if you think you’ve been tricked into sharing personal information with a scammer, don’t worry, as you can take immediate steps to protect yourself.
Find out what to do if you think you’ve been scammed here.
Featured Image – Samuel Regan-Asante (via Unsplash)
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Seven men arrested in Greater Manchester as part of investigation into child sexual exploitation in early 2000s
Emily Sergeant
Seven men have been arrested at addresses across Greater Manchester and Cheshire as part of a complex child sexual exploitation investigation.
As part of Greater Manchester Police (GMP)’s pursuit of suspected non-recent child sex offenders in our region, particularly in relation to the exploitation of teenage children in Manchester city centre in the early 2000s, officers executed warrants at nine addresses in Manchester, Stockport, and Wilmslow this week, and proceeded to arrest seven people.
The seven suspects are aged between 41 and 54, and they have been arrested on suspicion of various offences – including rape, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity relating to a girl aged under 16.
The arrests form part of GMP’s dedicated investigation, ‘Operation Green Jacket’, which is led by its Child Sexual Exploitation Major Incident Team, in partnership with Manchester City Council, and so far, a total of 64 suspects have been detained and interviewed since the investigation was launched back in early May 2019.
Seven men have been arrested in Greater Manchester as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation in the early 2000s / Credit: Greater Manchester Police
Earlier this month, the first suspect charged as part of this investigation appeared in court accused of six offences against two teenage girls between May 2004 and February 2005, and GMP says its specialist detectives continue to “relentlessly pursue all available lines of enquiry” to bring long-awaited justice for survivors.
“We will not allow the passage of time to become a barrier in the pursuit of justice,” GMP insisted.
DI Humphreys: “Despite the passage of time, this investigation will not go away until offenders are held responsible for their appalling actions.
“We are clear when we say that in Greater Manchester, time is no barrier to justice.”https://t.co/gi5x7GTC3C
Speaking following the arrests this week, Detective Inspector Eleanor Humphreys, who is the Deputy Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Green Jacket, commented: “This action is just the latest part of our wide-ranging investigation into the shocking abuse that young children were being subjected to in south Manchester in the early 2000s.
“Despite the passage of time, this investigation will not go away until offenders are held responsible for their appalling actions.
“We are clear when we say that in Greater Manchester, time is no barrier to justice.
“We are doing everything in our power to support survivors and work at a pace they are comfortable with, to listen to them and to ensure that suspects are identified, traced, and brought into custody.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Former GMP detective stole cocaine from police storage to sell on Greater Manchester’s streets
Emily Sergeant
A former detective has been found guilty of stealing cocaine from police storage to sell on Greater Manchester’s streets.
Andrew Talbot has been convicted following an investigation led by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Anti-Corruption Unit – which commenced back in February 2020 after he was captured on CCTV dropping a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s primary school.
GMP’s enquiries uncovered that the 54-year-old stole almost four kilograms of cocaine while he was working in the force’s Serious Crime Division at Nexus House.
Shortly after being notified of the CCTV footage, police then went on to search Talbot, his car, and his home, where they found more cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and evidence to indicate that he had been abusing his privileged access to the force’s property storage for criminal purposes.
GMP says it could “confidently piece together” that Talbot’s offending spanned over two years, after examining his mobile phone, and his use of computer system and operational exhibits.
#SENTENCED | A former detective has been convicted of stealing cocaine from police storage to use for street supply.
Our anti-corruption unit helped bring Andrew Talbot (54) to justice for the full extent of his crimes.
In November 2023, Talbot pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine, possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, theft of cocaine, conspiracy, two counts of misconduct in public office, and a further charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, and following these admissions, he was sacked by GMP at an accelerated misconduct hearing earlier this year.
Following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (25 September 2024), Talbot was found guilty of supplying a controlled drug of Class A, misconduct in public office, and failing to comply with a notice under section 49 of the Regulation and Investigatory Powers Act 2000, GMP has confirmed.
“This was a lengthy and detailed investigation demonstrating the diligence of the officers in our Anti-Corruption Unit, and this case sends a strong message about the expectations we have for serving police officers,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Adams, of GMP’s Anti-Corruption Unit, after Talbot was found guilty this week.
“We know the vast majority of officers are dedicated and compassionate professionals, but we have no tolerance for anyone like Talbot who is not fit to serve the people of Greater Manchester.”