Beware there is a new parking ticket scam that if coming for your wallet. This new phishing scam is making the rounds in many US and Canadian cities, using fake parking tickets to trick unknowing drivers into handing over their banking information. It’s a new low for these scummy criminals.
If you have received a parking ticket under the windshield wiper blade of your parked vehicle, its frustrating and alarming but this scam will rob you blind.
The fake tickets are placed of parked cars, and appear to look real to anyone. This makes it easy for their car owners to fall right into the trap. One example was spotted in Calgary, Canada, which prompting the city’s parking authority to warn the public on social media. This scam is in Atlanta as well, we are hearing reports from around the US and Canada. And today we are hearing this occurring in others countries as the scam seems to be spreading like a virus.
The phony ticket has the regions, state or city logo printed on it, along with the date of the supposed parking violation, and the requested penalty amount. The tickets are convincing at first glance. Take a closer and it will reveal a QR code or a web address that is slightly different than the official site.
You may not even know it, the web address and the QR code leads you to a web page where you would enter your personal banking details or credit card number. Sometimes it asks for your PayPal information.
The website takes drivers financial information and they unknowingly hand over their bank information to scammers, who can then steal their money. Drivers typically destroy the phony tickets after what they believe is paying the fine. This makes it even harder to track down the criminals.
In some cities, scammers began sending text messages telling victims about a parking ticket that costs a nominal fee, but that additional fines will accrue if not paid off promptly. Between the low cost and urgency to avoid fees, victims often follow the link to an unofficial website, where their money and their personal information is stolen. Before you judge these victims for falling for such an ‘obvious’ scam, these text messages look professional and people typically react to these requests.
Fake parking ticket scams have been reported everywhere. How do you find out if it is a real ticket.
Verify payment requests: If you receive a QR code for a parking ticket payment on your windshield, via email or text, don’t rush to pay. Instead of paying for the ticket on your phone, wait to get in front of a laptop or desktop computer and go to the official parking authority’s website. Most cities give you the option of paying in-person or through the official website. You will usually need the citation ticket number and your license plate information to look up your ticket. If nothing comes up, it is likely a fake ticket.
Verify contact information: Search for the official parking authority contact information online instead of relying on the contact information provided in the text or receipt left on the windshield, which can lead you to talk to the scammer instead of a city representative.
Watch for QR codes: Most cities haven’t implemented QR codes in their ticketing system, so the use of QR codes in texts or paper tickets should be a red flag.
Check ticket format: Though it depends on the city, most parking tickets are double-sided and placed in an envelope. There is usually detailed information explaining how to contest or pay the ticket.
Be wary of unsolicited messages: Ignore links sent by email, or text claiming to be for parking fine payments.
Don’t click on suspicious links: Be cautious about clicking on any links that appear in emails, or texts regarding parking fine payments. Scammers often use these methods to direct you to fake websites that may look legitimate but are designed to steal your personal and financial information.
A major red flag is a QR code that leads to a PayPal account. If you suspect a ticket is fake, you should verify the ticket’s legitimacy by contacting the issuing authority directly. Do not scan QR codes or send payment without confirmation and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
You may be smart enough not to fall for this scam, but some people may not be aware of this scam. Share this story with your friends and family.
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Lauren Fix, The Car Coach is a nationally recognized automotive expert, media guest, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and safety issues for both the auto industry and consumers. Her analysis is honest and straightforward.