Glasgow City Council has issued an urgent alert to motorists after a spate of sophisticated scam text messages, purporting to be related to parking fine payments, were reported in the region.
This warning comes amid an ongoing cyber attack targeting several municipal services, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of local government systems and the heightened risk of social engineering scams.
Authorities Warn Motorists About Phishing Texts
According to council officials, several residents recently received suspicious text messages claiming to be from the city’s parking enforcement team.
The messages requested recipients to settle alleged outstanding parking fines by following embedded links and submitting payment details online.
However, city authorities have clarified that they do not contact individuals by text message in relation to penalty notices or fine payments, and any such communication is fraudulent in nature.
The council cautioned the public not to engage with these messages, stressing the potential risk of financial loss and identity theft.
“We urge all residents to remain vigilant and to avoid clicking any links or providing sensitive information in response to unsolicited messages,” stated a spokesperson for Glasgow City Council.
In the event of receiving such communication, individuals should verify the message by contacting the council directly using information from the official website. Any suspicious activity should also be reported to Action Fraud for further investigation.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) underscored the growing scale of the issue, revealing that in the first half of 2024 alone, nearly 20,000 customers had contacted their centre to report suspected fraudulent activity.
Officials noted that the methods employed by criminals are evolving, increasingly exploiting the trust that drivers place in official-looking correspondence to harvest personal information and facilitate unauthorised transactions.
DVLA Reports Surge in Fraudulent Activity
According to the Report, the council’s warning follows a series of high-profile cyber incidents affecting local authorities across the UK, highlighting systemic risks in public sector cybersecurity.
The ongoing cyber attack on Glasgow’s municipal systems has already disrupted several council-run services, making the region a potential target for opportunistic cybercriminals seeking to exploit confusion and lapses in communication.
In response to the surge in phishing attempts, city officials have reiterated that legitimate parking enforcement communications will only be delivered through official channels, and payment portals can be safely accessed exclusively via the council’s verified website.
They encouraged residents to remain sceptical of any communication demanding immediate action or requesting personal or financial information, particularly if received via email, text, or phone calls.
Cybersecurity experts advise all motorists to routinely monitor their financial statements for any unauthorised transactions and to update passwords regularly to mitigate the risk of account compromise.
Additionally, reporting attempted scams to authorities is vital in helping law enforcement track emerging threats and protect the wider community.
The DVLA, alongside Glasgow City Council, continues to work closely with the National Cyber Security Centre and law enforcement agencies to enhance resilience to cyber threats.
Residents are urged to remain alert and to educate themselves about common indicators of online fraud, such as generic greetings, misspellings, and dubious URL links.
With digital threats on the rise, authorities emphasise the importance of public awareness and proactive incident reporting to safeguard both individual and municipal interests as the city works to restore full operational integrity to its systems.
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