Did you receive a RingGo text message that claims you have an unpaid parking fee? It’s a scam! Drivers are being targeted by Ring Go parking text scam that looks convincing enough to catch you off guard, especially if you have recently parked somewhere.
If you’ve gotten one of such messages, here are red flags that prove it’s a scam, and a short breakdown of how this smishing scam works.
RingGo Unpaid Parking Fee Text Scam
It is a smishing scam (sent via text message) with the sole purpose of getting people to visit a malicious website that takes their credit card details and gain access to their bank account. This scam uses a false sense of urgency to incite panic, make people click on the link quickly and enter credit card or personal information on a fake website.
Spotting The Red Flags
Here are some things that should immediately make you suspicious:
The first red flag is that the scam text does not contain any personal information. It does not give Time, Date, Reg Number or Location, so obviously a scam.
A strange website address: Look closely at the link. The website address have nothing to do with the genuine RingGo website. Though in some cases, the scammers use slightly altered names to make them look legitimate. For example, one of such reported malicious website is Ringoh-co.shop/uk
Unexpected parking charge: Majority of recipients do not use the RingGo parking App. While a few can’t remember the last time they used the app.
Poor spelling: The scam texts though looks convincing, contain grammatical mistakes that doesn’t sound like a genuine company message.
What Should You Do If You Receive the Text?
Honestly, don’t click it.
If you think you may actually have an unpaid parking session, open the RingGo app yourself or access the official RingGo website independently. Don’t use the link provided in the text.
Delete the message and report it as spam. And please don’t reply to the sender.
If you have already clicked the link and entered your payment details, contact your bank as soon as possible and explain what happened.
Final Thoughts
I know an unexpected parking charge can make you panic for a second, but that’s exactly what scammers are counting on.
So if a RingGo text suddenly lands in your phone saying you owe money, stop and check independently before doing anything. Don’t use the link in the message.
A few seconds of checking could save you from giving your payment details to a scammer.