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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The DVSA is warning of scam parking fine text messages that threaten to ‘ban you from driving’ / Credit: PublicDomainPictures | IPTC (Ronald Hudson)
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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Simon Wood announces gutting closure of Manchester restaurant after seven years
Danny Jones
Celebrity chef and Manchester local Simon Wood has announced that his self-titled WOOD Restaurant has sadly closed its doors.
The Oldham-born chef-owner who won MasterChef back in 2015, revealed the unfortunate news on Wednesday, 2 October, confirming that the First Street site will be closing immediately. Truly gutting.
Wood has remained one of Greater Manchester’s most-renowned chefs for the past decade, not to mention a huge advocate for supporting the hospitality industry, especially post-Covid and during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Sharing an emotional post on Instagram, he wrote: “It is with much regret that I have to inform you that I must close the doors here at WOOD for good, with immediate effect.”
“We have had 7 years as part of the Manchester city dining scene and I’m very proud of what the team and I have achieved”, the 48-year-old continued.
“Sadly with COVID rent arrears now being demanded by our landlord and an increasingly difficult marketplace, energy increases, ingredient costs and soon-to-be spiralling business rates we just cannot make this work.”
“I’d like to thank everyone for your support and patronage over the years. Thank you, Simon.”
It was only at the start of the week that Wood shared a frustrated post about a group of no-show customers over the weekend that failed to even pre-warn that they would no longer be attending one of his most exclusive and costly experiences.
We’re starting to lose count of how many local businesses are unfortunately struggling in the face of the rising business rates and energy bills that all independents are facing at the minute.
It was only last month that we saw Almous Famous had to call it a day with their Withington location and beloved sandwich spot Micky’s sadly suffer the same fate. Even cult favourite Cafe Marhaba looks to have gone up for sale. So tough to swallow.
We’re genuinely gutted for everyone involved with the brand. All the best, Si – we know you’ll be back stronger than ever one of these days.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
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No trams to run through major Manchester city centre station this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Arguably Manchester city centre’s most important tram stop is set to be out of action this weekend, with no services running through it.
In what is another part of Transport for Greater Manchester‘s (TfGM) ongoing programme of works intended to “maintain and improve” the Metrolink system and ensure tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain “safe, reliable, and accessible”, it’s been confirmed that no trams will run through Cornbrook this weekend.
Due to this, there will be a change to operating patterns across the majority of the Metrolink network on both Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October.
As is often the case in instances like these, disruption to passengers is expected.
On Saturday and Sunday [5 and 6 October], no trams will operate through Cornbrook.
There will be a change to operating patterns and replacement bus services will be in operation.
On Saturday (5 October), the tram service pattern will change to Altrincham – Old Trafford, Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury – Firswood, Etihad Campus – Bury (peak time only) / Victoria (after peak only), Manchester Airport – Firswood, Rochdale Town Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield (via Exchange Square), and The Trafford Centre – Wharfside.
Similarly, on Sunday (6 October), the only difference to the above service pattern is that the Etihad Campus tram will only run to Victoria, not Bury.
Services will operate every 12 minutes, except for on the Eccles line, where no trams will run at all.
TfGM is also warning that there may be changes to the first and last tram times during these works, but, in bid to help people still get to their destinations, three bus replacement services will operate from Firswood to Victoria, Old Trafford to Piccadilly, and Eccles to Piccadilly.
No trams will run through major Manchester city centre station Cornbrook this weekend / Credit: TfGM
The Old Trafford to Piccadilly bus service will run through Wharfside, while the Eccles to Piccadilly will travel via MediaCity.
“These works are a vitally important part of maintaining a safe and reliable network for all our customers,” explained
Ian Davies, who is TfGM’s Interim Network Director for Metrolink, said these works are “a vitally important part” of maintaining the Metrolink, and that work has been scheduled by TfGM to “minimise disruption to passengers and residents as much as possible”.
Emily Sergeant -
26th September 2024 
