Attendees at Old Trafford have encountered fake parking stewards demanding cash fees, leading to hefty penalty charges for innocent fans. These rogue operators have been operating for years, prompting questions about the responsibility of local authorities, including the police and the stadium management. Ocean Parking, the enforcement operator, admitted awareness of the fraudulent activity but has not taken effective action. Despite some council efforts to patrol against illegal parking, much remains to be done to protect drivers from deception, as fans continue to be victimized by this scam.
This scam has been going on for at least five years, judging by social media threads, meaning that the con artists have been making thousands of pounds from unwitting drivers.
The council undertakes patrols to identify and prevent the use of illegal popup car parks and takes part in joint operations with Greater Manchester police, said a spokesperson.
Ocean refused to disclose how much it makes from event-day parking contraventions, sharing the frustration of affected drivers while being aware of illegal activity.
Fans are misled by men in hi-vis jackets asking for cash to park, raising questions on accountability among authorities that are aware of this criminal operation.
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