SOUTHEND police are warning of a serious scam in Southend which is causing concern.

Officers say they have had a number of reports of people posing as traffic enforcement-officers targeting people at parking areas in Southend.

These scammers tell victims they need to pay a fee on a legitimate machine.

Once the card has been placed into the machine it appears they have skimmed/cloned the card and have then used the copy within a very short space of time.

All pay and display are clearly marked within the district.

Police say people should beware of the scam and stress they should be vigilant, ask for ID or call police if on 101 if they are unsure.