Parking machines and messaging scams
Street parking ticket machines QR code scams
We don't use QR codes for on-street parking payments, and neither does .
If you see a QR code on one of our ticket machines, take a photograph and email it with the location and ticket machine number to parking.contract@edinburgh.gov.uk. We will arrange for it to be removed.
Only download the RingGo app from the Apple or Google app stores. Do not download this after following a QR code or using an internet search as sometimes sites lsted at the top of the results are not always genuine.
Penalty charge notice text, instant messaging and email scams
We only issue parking, bus lane and LEZ penalty charge notices by letter. We send these to the vehicle owner by post.
If you receive a text, instant message or an unsolicited e-mail claiming to be from the Council about a penalty charge notice, please do not open any links in the message.
You can check if you have any outstanding notices issued by us by emailing parking@edinburgh.gov.uk
Fake parking tickets left on your vehicle
We’re aware that scammers are putting fake parking tickets on vehicles. All our parking tickets will include your vehicle registration number, the time and date and the location of its issue.
Genuine parking tickets will also have a unique reference number, beginning ED. You can use our pay a parking ticket online service to check if a notice is valid or not, by entering the parking ticket number and your vehicle registration. If this doesn’t appear on our system it may not be genuine. However, sometimes it can take 24 hours for all ticket details, such as photographs, to be available on our online service.
Ticket machine skimming devices
We've also been informed that in some cities, fraudsters have attached skimming devices to contactless parking machines. This is where an additional sticker or device is placed over the card reading equipment.
If you see any additional stickers or items placed on our ticket machines, please take a photograph and email it along with its location to the address below. We will arrange for this to be investigated and for anything fake to be removed. You can park elsewhere or pay for your parking using our cashless provider, RingGo.