Fraudsters posing as traffic wardens are stealing bank cards from drivers near East Putney station, with one victim losing £500, police have warned.
The scam targets people paying for parking. Criminals approach drivers at ticket machines, claim the machine is broken, and offer to help find a working one. They then take the victim’s bank card and disappear, using it at ATMs or shops.
Metropolitan Police say some fraudsters have also managed to obtain victims’ PIN numbers during the encounter.
PCSO Cecilia Allaker, who covers East Putney ward, issued the warning to residents this week. The alert comes two months after local police admitted they were overstretched and unable to prevent opportunistic crime in the area.
“Please be cautious when paying at a parking meter with a bank card,” she said. “You may be the victim of fraud when you are offered help to obtain your parking ticket.”
The scammers are “clever at deception, pretending to be kind”, the alert warned.
Drivers should be wary of anyone offering unsolicited help at parking machines, even if they appear to be in uniform or claim to be officials. Legitimate traffic wardens will not ask for or handle your bank card.
If you believe you have been a victim of this scam, report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via reportfraud.police.uk. In an emergency, call 999.
