Czech Republic warns of deceptive push notifications and parking SMS scams

Mobile platforms are tightening rules on aggressive push notifications used for marketing. Regulators note that allowing a notification does not constitute consent for advertising, and Android, iOS and Chrome now give users more control to block unsolicited messages. Service alerts—such as flight‑gate changes or fraud warnings—are distinguished from commercial prompts that aim to reopen apps or drive sales.

In the Czech town of Hranice, consumers have reported fraudulent SMS messages that mimic official parking‑fine notices. The texts claim an unpaid fee and include urgent language like "Okamžitě zaplaťte" with a link to a payment portal. Authorities and the parking service EasyPark confirm the messages are scams, advising people not to click links and to verify any charge only through the official app or website.