A sophisticated scam targeting vehicle owners has emerged involving fraudulent text messages purporting to be from RingGo, a parking payment application. The messages claim that outstanding parking charges have been identified and request immediate payment, warning of potential enforcement action or administrative consequences. Recipients are directed to click a link to settle the alleged debt.
The fraudulent messages mimic legitimate communications from RingGo, instructing users to enter their vehicle registration numbers and financial information on what appears to be the official website. However, the links direct users to counterfeit pages that have been created using artificial intelligence technology to closely resemble the authentic RingGo site. Once personal or financial details are submitted, this information is captured by criminal networks who can use it to drain bank accounts or sell the data to other bad actors.
Security experts note several indicators that distinguish these messages as fraudulent. The web addresses do not match official RingGo domains, and spelling errors appear in some versions. One observed example incorrectly signed off as “RingGo Customer Servicess.” The links themselves often fail to function initially, which is deliberate—experts indicate the scammers are specifically targeting iPhone users, exploiting how Apple’s iMessage platform restricts link activation from unknown senders until a response is sent.
Parking payment services are frequently targeted by such schemes because the notifications appear credible to most drivers, the amounts involved are typically modest enough to avoid triggering suspicion, and there is an apparent consequence to ignoring the request. RingGo has advised customers not to click any links in such messages and to delete them immediately. Those wishing to verify their parking history should use the official RingGo application or website directly. Recipients can report suspicious texts to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding them to 7726. Anyone who has already entered financial details should immediately contact their bank and change their passwords.
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