Old Trafford Parking Scam: Ongoing Issue

For at least five years, football fans visiting Old Trafford have fallen victim to a sophisticated parking scam. Fake stewards in high-visibility jackets direct unsuspecting drivers to park on private land, charge them a cash fee, and leave them vulnerable to legitimate Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). Despite awareness among all relevant authorities, the scam continues to operate, creating a double financial penalty for victims who have little recourse.

Old Trafford Match-Day Parking Scam

The core problem revolves around unsuspecting football fans being scammed by individuals posing as parking stewards near Old Trafford. Victims are directed to park on private land and charged a cash fee, typically around £10. They subsequently receive Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for illegal parking, often amounting to £170, creating a double financial burden.

This predatory scheme exploits the limited parking around the stadium and the natural trust people place in individuals appearing to be official stewards. The scam is particularly effective on match days when parking is at a premium and visitors from out of town may be unfamiliar with local parking regulations.

How the Scam Operates

The scheme involves several deceptive elements working together:

• Fake Parking Stewards: Individuals wearing hi-vis jackets with “official match day parking” written on them position themselves near Old Trafford on match days, appearing legitimate to visiting fans.
• Cash Payments: They demand parking fees, typically around £10, exclusively in cash to avoid creating any paper trail.
• Misdirection to Private Land: Drivers are intentionally guided to park on land where parking is prohibited, despite visible signage to the contrary in many cases.
• Enforcement by Ocean Parking: This company legitimately enforces parking rules on the private land and issues PCNs to vehicles parked without proper authorization.

The effectiveness of the scam relies on the confusion of match days, the authority projected by the hi-vis jackets, and fans’ eagerness to secure convenient parking near the stadium.

The Scope and History of the Scam

Evidence from social media threads suggests the scam has been ongoing for at least five years. This persistent operation indicates a significant failure in enforcement and prevention measures. The longevity of the scheme suggests that both the con artists and legitimate parking enforcers have made substantial amounts of money from unwitting drivers.

The geographic scope appears concentrated around private lands near Old Trafford, with specific streets repeatedly mentioned in victim reports. The temporal pattern is clearly linked to Manchester United’s home fixtures, with the scam primarily operating during the pre-match rush when parking demand peaks.

Awareness and Responses of Key Parties

Ocean Parking’s Knowledge and Actions

• Has acknowledged awareness of the illegal activity for a “considerable time”
• Admits knowledge of the scam happening on its client’s property for years
• Claims to alert the police when its patrols identify the fraudsters
• States a recent policy change involves issuing PCNs only for “very specific contraventions” on match days, noting the presence of double-yellow lines and warning signs
• Refuses to disclose how much it profits from event-day parking contraventions

Old Trafford Council’s Position

• Confirms awareness of the problem and warns of the scam on its website, though this information is not prominently displayed or easily found
• Claims to undertake patrols and joint operations with Greater Manchester Police to prevent illegal pop-up car parks, but these efforts appear “ineffectual” given the continued operation of the scam
• Has failed to implement more robust preventative measures despite years of documented cases

Manchester United’s Stance

• States that the streets in question are not associated with the stadium
• Advises fans to book official match-day parking
• Has not taken more proactive measures to warn visiting fans about the scam or coordinate with authorities to address it

Greater Manchester Police’s Response

• Directed inquiries about the ongoing fraud to the council
• Appears to have taken limited enforcement action against the perpetrators
• Has not prioritized this issue despite its persistent nature and financial impact on victims

The Experience of a Victim

One victim received a £170 PCN after being directed by fake stewards to park in a prohibited area. Despite explaining the circumstances, their appeal to the Independent Appeals Service was unsuccessful. The adjudicator expressed sympathy but stated that extenuating circumstances—including being misled by fraudsters—could not be considered under their rules. The victim was left with no option but to pay the penalty or risk court action and potentially higher costs.

This case illustrates the distressing position in which victims find themselves: having already paid once for parking, they must either pay a substantial penalty or engage in a potentially costly legal battle they are unlikely to win.

Financial Implications

The financial impact of this scam operates on multiple levels:

• For victims: A double financial penalty of the initial cash payment (typically £10) plus the PCN (typically £170)
• For the fraudsters: Significant income from cash payments, with no apparent business costs beyond hi-vis jackets
• For Ocean Parking: Substantial revenue from PCNs issued to misdirected drivers, though they refuse to disclose specific amounts
• For Manchester United and legitimate parking operations: Potential loss of revenue from official parking options

The combined financial scale of this operation over five years likely amounts to hundreds of thousands of pounds, considering the capacity of Old Trafford and the frequency of home matches.

Lessons Learned and Prevention

The persistence of this scam highlights several critical lessons:

• The importance of studying parking signs in streets and car parks before parking, regardless of directions received
• Being suspicious of any instruction to ignore parking signs, even from individuals appearing official
• The value of booking official parking through Manchester United or other legitimate providers
• The need for cash payment skepticism, as legitimate operations typically offer multiple payment options
• The importance of reporting incidents to both the police and relevant authorities, even if immediate action seems unlikely

Recommendations for Resolution

To effectively address this ongoing issue, a coordinated approach is necessary:

1. Enhanced police presence specifically targeting fake parking attendants on match days
2. Prominent warnings on Manchester United’s website, match tickets, and in pre-match communications
3. Temporary signage on affected streets specifically warning about the scam
4. A review of Ocean Parking’s practices and consideration of leniency for demonstrable victims of fraud
5. Better coordination between all stakeholders including Manchester United, the council, police, and parking enforcement companies
6. Creation of a reporting mechanism specifically for victims, potentially with a path to appeal PCNs in these circumstances
7. Public awareness campaign through local and social media to alert potential victims

Conclusion

The Old Trafford parking scam represents a persistent failure of consumer protection and law enforcement. Despite awareness among all relevant authorities, football fans continue to fall victim to this scheme year after year. The financial impact on individuals, while significant, is compounded by the frustration of having no effective recourse.

Until more decisive action is taken by the responsible authorities, the best protection for fans remains vigilance, skepticism toward unexpected parking attendants, and careful adherence to official parking options. The continued operation of this scam raises important questions about the priorities and effectiveness of private parking enforcement, local authorities, and policing around major sporting events.