Getting a parking ticket is frustrating, and you might want to pay it off quickly. But be careful—scammers are using fake tickets to trick people into paying for violations they didn’t actually get.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says these fake tickets have QR codes. When you scan the code, it doesn’t take you to the real payment site for your town or city. Instead, it sends you to a fake website that looks real. If you pay there, you’re not just losing money. You’re also giving away your personal information, which could put you at more risk.
How the parking ticket scam works
Scammers watch busy streets for an easy target, like someone who double parks quickly to run into a store. They print a very official-looking parking ticket using a handheld device and put it on your car’s windshield.
This fake ticket has a QR code that seems to offer a quick way to pay the fine, but it actually leads to a scam website. If you pay there, you will lose your money and give your personal information to the scammer. And remember, you weren’t really given a ticket in the first place!
If the ticket doesn’t have a QR code, it might tell you to go to a website that accepts payments directly from people. Also, some people have gotten emails about parking tickets they need to pay to avoid bigger fines. But, the BBB warns that clicking on these payment links could even download harmful software onto your computer.
How to spot a fake parking ticket
If you’re sure you didn’t do anything wrong but still got a parking ticket, that’s a big red flag. Remember, you can always fight any parking ticket. A real ticket should tell you exactly what law or rule you supposedly broke. If the reason on the ticket doesn’t make sense, you might be holding a fake ticket.
Real parking tickets usually direct you to an official city website to pay. If the ticket asks you to pay through an app like Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal, it’s probably a scam.
Also, be cautious if you get a ticket in a private parking lot, like at a store or stadium. It’s rare for these places to issue tickets because they usually tow or boot cars instead. If you come back to your car and find a ticket, be suspicious.
No matter what, always double-check who gave you the ticket. Contact them directly through their official website, not the phone number or QR code on the ticket. Ask if the ticket is real. If it’s not, report it.
Best practices to avoid ticket scams
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives these tips:
- Learn about parking rules: Tourists and cars with out-of-state plates are often targeted because scammers think they don’t know local parking laws.
- Look closely at the ticket: Check the ticket details. Search for the city’s official parking ticket website and see if it matches what’s on your ticket. Do the logos look the same? Are the phone numbers and website addresses the same? Remember, government websites should end in .gov, and secure payment sites should start with “HTTPS.”
- Check how you can pay: If the ticket lets you pay by check, it can help you tell if it’s real. Checks should be made out to a specific government office, not just initials or a person’s name.
- Use a credit card to pay: If you can, pay with a credit card. This way, if the payment is a scam, your bank can help you get your money back. Payments made with apps, debit cards, cash, or checks are usually hard to get back if they’re scams.
If you think you’ve gotten a fake parking ticket, here’s what you should do:
The best action, besides not paying it, is to report it. You can tell the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about it using their BBB Scam Tracker website. Even if you can’t get your money back (unless you paid by credit card), reporting it can help warn others and stop them from getting scammed in the future.