RingGo Text Scam: How to Spot Fake Parking Payment Messages

A wave of fraudulent text messages impersonating RingGo, the UK's pay-by-phone parking service, has been landing in drivers' inboxes throughout 2026. The messages claim you have an outstanding or unpaid parking session and press you to "settle" it immediately through a link — but the link leads to a fake website built to steal your card details.

Local councils, including North Devon Council, have publicly warned residents about fraudulent texts "claiming to be from RingGo," and The Guardian reported that security experts are urging drivers to stay alert as the scam spreads. RingGo itself has published official guidance on staying safe from fake RingGo texts.

What the fake RingGo text says

The wording varies, but most versions of the scam follow the same pattern:

• A message claims a "standard reconciliation" of parking records found an unpaid balance or outstanding parking charge.
• It pressures you to pay immediately to avoid a fine, penalty, or debt collection.
• It includes a link to a site that looks like RingGo but uses a lookalike web address (spotted examples end in domains such as .club or .cloud rather than the real ringgo.co.uk / myringgo.co.uk).
• Some versions ask you to reply "Y" to a text before the link becomes clickable — a trick used to get around spam filters and, on iPhone, to get iMessage to activate a link from an unknown sender.
• Poor spelling is a common tell. Some messages have been signed off with typos like "RingGo Customer Servicess."

If you enter your card details on the fake site, scammers can charge your card, drain your account, or resell your personal information.

How to tell a real RingGo message from a scam

• RingGo will never ask you to reply to a text to "activate" a link. If a message tells you to text back "Y" or any other code first, it's a scam.
• Check the link carefully. RingGo's official domains are ringgo.co.uk and myringgo.co.uk. Anything else — extra words, unusual endings like .club, random characters — is fake.
• Don't trust urgency. Legitimate parking charges don't require instant payment via SMS link.
• When in doubt, don't tap the link at all. Open the official RingGo app or go directly to myringgo.co.uk in your browser, log in, and check your Receipts/History. If a session shows as paid there, your account is fine — the text was fake.

What to do if you receive one

1. Do not click the link.
2. Do not reply, not even "STOP" — replying confirms your number is active.
3. Report it by forwarding the message to 7726 (the UK's free spam-reporting number), then delete it.
4. If you've already entered card details on a fake site, contact your bank immediately to block the card and monitor for fraudulent transactions.

The bigger picture: this isn't just about RingGo

Scam texts impersonating parking apps, delivery couriers, banks, and government agencies all use the same playbook: create urgency, imitate a brand you trust, and get you to click a link before you think twice. This kind of attack is called smishing (SMS phishing), and it works because a text message feels more immediate and personal than an email. Learn more about smishing and how to protect yourself.

The single most reliable piece of advice, from RingGo, from consumer protection experts, and from every bank's fraud team, stays the same: never click on a link in a text message unless you're certain who sent it. If you need to check a parking session, a delivery, or a bank balance, go directly to the official app or website — never through a link texted to you.

Blocking these messages automatically

Staying cautious helps, but the fastest-growing scam texts rely on volume — a single leaked or randomly-generated phone number can receive dozens of these messages a month. A smart filter that blocks any incoming message containing a link from senders who aren't in your contacts catches most of them silently, before you're ever tempted to tap — no need to spot every fake domain or typo yourself. With SMS Filter, you can also filter by specific keywords or senders, so recurring scam patterns like "unpaid parking" get blocked automatically, on top of sms organization into folders and on-device privacy.

Learn more

This article is provided for general safety awareness and is not affiliated with or endorsed by RingGo.