Scam email warning issued as residents targeted by fake parking charge message

The email, entitled 'Penality Charge Ref', claims that you have used a road in an area where a parking charge scheme applies and did not pay the 'penalty charge'.

The recipient is ordered to pay the charge by credit or debit card before a certain date and is threatened with increased fines, and even County Court action, should the charge is not paid.

While the email may appear authentic, Dorset Police Cyber Crime Unit has warned people not to open the email or attempt to pay the 'penalty charge'.

Dorset Police Cyber Crime Unit said there are multiple things a user can do to verify whether or not an email is legitimate or fake. 

These include checking the email address or using your mouse to hover over the links and buttons to see if the link looks official. 

The scam email in full which Dorset Police is warning people not to open or click on any of its links. Picture: Dorset Police Cyber Crime Unit.

A spokesman adds that notifications like this are not delivered by email and are instead sent through the post, to the registered keeper of the vehicle in question. Anyone who receives this email or similar messages are advised to report it.

Dorset Police Cyber Crime Unit shared online: "Firstly, forward the email to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS). This service automatically assesses an email, and the associated website, removing the site from the Web if it is deemed malicious.

"To do this, simply forward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Secondly, flag the email as spam. The more you do this, the smarter your spam filter gets.

"This means, in time, it will be harder for the scammers to reach your inbox in the first place!"

For more information on phishing emails and scams, head to www.ncsc.gov.uk and www.actionfraud.police.uk.