Parking Ticket Scam

Please be aware of a parking ticket scam that has recently been identified in the Eastern area of Cheshire Constabulary. At present this particular scam has been reported within the Crewe and Sandbach areas and we are keen to learn if any other areas have been targeted.

There have been several reported incidents where a document that resembles a parking ticket has been left on vehicles within the towns. They have primarily been placed upon vehicles that are parked with wheels on the footpath. The document is quite official looking and urges the recipient to send money to a postal address (Parked Vehicles Division Ltd, 145-157 St Johns Road, London, EC1V 4PY) within a certain specific time scale. Much of the small print is also quite official sounding and although it does highlight a further purpose for this document a lot of it is quite confusing.

Upon closer inspection of the small print the document confirms that the issuers 'are working independently of traffic enforcement officers, and law enforcement agencies' and that they are actually photographing vehicles that are parked on the footpath for market research purposes and that the payment is to have the photo of your vehicle removed from their research. There are several references to market research throughout the notice.

Trading Standards are aware of these incidents and are actively looking into identifying the individuals behind placing these tickets. In the meantime, they are keen for information about this to be circulated for two main reasons:

1.) To make as many residents aware as possible that this is a bogus document and no further action needs taking on their part in relation to this notice.

2.) To request that anyone who has one of these bogus notices placed on their vehicle reports it. This is for intelligence purposes as to assist our investigations we are keen to establish what locations are being targeted and the overall spread of these notices. If you find one of these on your vehicle please can you make us aware of the location where your vehicle was parked when the notice was placed. Anyone who wishes to report one of these notices can contact myself directly via this email address or via 01244 614332 and I will ensure that the details are passed onto our contact at Trading Standards who is investigating this.

I have attached a file to this email that shows what this particular notice looks like.

Please can I request that you circulate this amongst members and friends/family so that this message is shared with as many people as possible