The Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) is aware of a number of common SMS message scams relating to paying a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

These types of scam messages, which may also refer to payment of a ‘parking ticket’, are typically sent out in bulk to random mobile numbers, not targeted at individuals based on any personal information or specific circumstances. Receiving such a message does not indicate that the sender has any knowledge of you having received a PCN, nor does it mean they have access to any of your vehicle or personal details. These scams operate without any connection to your case or any data held by the TPT.

Important points to note

– Local authorities will never request payment for a PCN via SMS message or similar.

– The TPT will never send an SMS message about paying a PCN after an adjudicator’s decision.

– The TPT sends a limited number of SMS messages in specific circumstances:

– The sender will always show as: TPT.gov.uk.

– SMS messages will only cover either: a reminder about your hearing with the adjudicator; relaying an offer or a message on your case that you should be aware of, or concern where you have tried to contact us and we have called you back, but have not been successful in reaching you.

– TPT SMS messages will not contain any specific details about you or direct you to make payment to anyone.

Think you may have received a suspect SMS message?

You are encouraged to report suspected scam SMS messages to your network provider, which can investigate the origin of the message and arrange to block or ban the sender should the origin be found to be malicious. You may report suspicious SMS messages for free by forwarding them to 7726.

Visit the National Cyber Security Centre for more information (opens external website).