Cumberland Council have warned residents after some residents received a scam text message about parking fines.

Scam text messages regarding unpaid parking fines have been received by a number of Cumberland residents according to the Council.

These messages have not been sent by Cumberland Council and are not legitimate parking fine texts.

Last week, residents using Cumberland Council car parks were encouraged to be 'vigilant' after other local authority car parks elsewhere in the country have been targeted in a fake payment scam.

Scammers have been reported to have placed fake pay-by-phone QR codes on ticket machines, attempting to trick members of the public into using a fraudulent online platform to pay for their parking.

READ MORE: Remembrance Sunday commemoration will go ahead in Carlisle

A spokesperson for Cumberland Council said: “Payments should only be made using your valid Penalty Charge Notice, which will have details on the reverse on how to pay.

“Please check carefully before paying your parking fine and if you're unsure, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

“To report a scam please call Scams Action - 0808 250 5050.”