**Parking Fine Scam Messages**
Council is aware of current scam text messaging alerting people to pay PCNs within 28 days or face rising costs, court or prosecution. If you think you have received one of these messages, here’s what to do:
How can I tell a scam from a genuine text message?
- Don’t panic!
- It’s natural to think you have to reply straightaway, but think about it first
- Take some time to look at the message closely
Be suspicious and look for signs this may be a scam:
- Unknown numbers
- Requests for payment or payment details
- ‘Urgent’ requests
- Carefully examine website links & check for any characters out of place
- Spelling or grammatical errors
Because of this legitimate companies are now not including links in their messages to their customers and fraudsters are finding a way around this.
- ‘Spoofing’ is where fraudsters use identity masking technology to change the name or number that is displayed as the sender. This can make it look like the text has come from your bank’s number or from a legitimate organisation in this case ‘GOV UK’
- If in doubt, contact the company or organisation you think sent the text and ask if it’s genuine. Look online for a number for them – don’t try to call the number the text came from.
- Some organisations and companies have information on their website about how they will contact customers or users.
What do I do if you have received this scam message?
- Do not reply. It informs the scammers your number is active and you could be bombarded with more scam messages.
- Do not click on any links, even if they look genuine. Clicking a link could result in malware being downloaded onto your phone that compromises your data.
- Do not share personal or banking information.
If you have replied to the text already, here’s what to do:
- If you’ve shared your banking details, you should contact your bank immediately.
- If you’ve shared your password, change the passwords on any of your accounts which use the same password.
- If you’ve lost money, tell your bank and report it as a crime to Action Fraud Website / 0300 123 2040
Updated Car Parking Informaiton for Public in Derry and Strabane
Derry City and Strabane District Council have agreed a new enforcement contract with NSL (Marston Holdings Ltd) to provide enforcement services within the 15 Pay and Display car parks across the City and District, which have seen changes come into effect since 1st April 2024.
Enforcement has been provided since 2015 through an Agreement with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) who employ the ‘red coat’ traffic attendants. From the 1st April 2024 Marston Holding’s Ltd operating as NSL will provide those services in Derry City and Strabane District Council as well as seven other council areas in Northern Ireland.
The main change that car park users will see is that the Parking attendants will wear a blue uniform, but their responsibilities and legal authority remains the same, and any Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued will be valid.
The new contract will also see the introduction of a new parking system in operation at all Council pay and display carparks in Derry and Strabane. The current cashless parking provider 'JustPark' will be replaced by 'RingGo'.
Car park users will still be able to pay for their parking with cash using the machines provided throughout the City and District.
Current Centre Car Parking Information
