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In this issue:
 Trading Standards are urging residents to be aware of a fixed penalty notice scam which has been circulating in Coventry, as above.
In just 24 hours, Trading Standards have received seven reports, all strangely quoting the same Penalty Charge Reference of 950231341223.
Six of these came from the Westwood Heath area alone!
It claims that on a certain date and time the vehicle you own was in a charging area and will gives a fee of £23.24 that needs to be paid within 28 days or the fine will increase. However, it doesn't give details of a vehicle registration or a location of the 'offence'.
The email, which claims to be from The Home Office makes threats that the amount payable will increase to £80.96 if the fine is not paid within 28 days.
It then asks you to click on a link to pay the fine.
The Home Office will not contact you about a parking charge: they are a Government body who primarily deal with immigration, security and law and order in England and Wales.
Trading Standards advise that this scam email is a typical example of phishing: where cyber criminals try to trick you into clicking on the links within their scam email or text message or give away sensitive information.
These messages may look authentic, but they are malicious.
Once clicked, you may be sent to pay money directly into the fraudsters’ bank account, you might have malware installed onto your computer, or your passwords and personal information may be compromised.
If you think you have received a suspicious email, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service at Report@phishing.gov.uk.
If you have already responded to the scam and lost money, contact your bank and report the crime to Action Fraud on 0330 123 2040 or online at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
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For more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
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