Warning to motorists - scam warnings

Fake text messages about parking tickets (PCNs)

Text message scam

We've become aware that some residents have received a text message from an unknown number about a fake parking ticket.

Please do not engage with the text message as this has not come from our teams.

Anyone that receives a genuine Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) from our wardens should always receive the physical notice on their windscreen first.

If the fine remains unpaid, we will then send a notice through the post to the registered owner of the vehicle, but these will always feature our name and means of contact. All personal addresses are supplied by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Our parking team never contacts residents by text and will only call someone if returning a voicemail. If you write to our teams to appeal a PCN or ask a question, we will respond through the same method of communication that you contacted us with.

If you receive any suspicious messages from organisations claiming to be us, please alert Action Fraud.

Please also share this information with your family and friends to ensure they are not affected by the scam.

Fake cashless parking payment apps, fraudulent parking payment websites and ticket machine stickers

App and website scam

Please be cautious when downloading cashless parking payment apps so you don't run the risk of becoming a victim of fraudsters.

We have received reports that people parking in West Sussex have been overcharged after searching for the MiPermit app on search engines and inadvertently paying via a fraudulent webpage.

MiPermit is used for cashless parking at council sites in Adur and Worthing and should only be downloaded from an app store like Apple or Google Play. You can also pay for parking by calling MiPermit directly or online via the official website:

We have reported the issue to MiPermit, which has advised that it is actively reporting and closing down fraudulent webpages, but that scammers are continually launching new websites.

Motorists in Arun have reported the same problem. It has also reported scammers placing stickers with fake contact details on or near pay-and-display machines.

Our officers are regularly checking the signage at our car parks and pay-and-display machines to ensure that they are displaying the correct contact information, but we are urging residents to double-check that the information they have is genuine before making payments.

If you have been affected by this, please alert Action Fraud.

Please also share this information with your family and friends to ensure they are not affected by the scam.

See:

Parking sign

Page last updated: 19 June 2025