Security experts are warning the public about a new text message scam impersonating the parking app RingGo. The fraudulent messages claim that recipients owe parking fees and threaten enforcement action to prompt them into clicking a provided link.
Clicking the link directs users to a counterfeit website that closely mimics the official RingGo site. Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, stated that advances in AI have allowed scammers to create these convincing clones. If users enter their username, password, or card details on these fake sites, the information is sent directly to criminal gangs.
At least two versions of the scam text are circulating, both using similar language about a "routine review" or "billing review" identifying an outstanding parking charge. Serpil Hall, a security expert from Datos Insights, noted that RingGo is a common target because parking notifications are plausible to many drivers, the amounts are typically small, and there is a perceived consequence to ignoring them.
Red flags for the scam include poor spelling, such as "RingGo Customer Servicess," and web addresses that do not match the real RingGo site. Some messages also instruct users to reply "Y" to activate the link, a tactic designed to bypass iMessage link disabling for unknown senders on iPhones.
A RingGo spokesperson advises anyone receiving these messages not to click on the link and to delete them. Customers can verify their parking history directly through the official RingGo app or website. The National Cyber Security Centre can be notified of such texts by forwarding them to 7726.