As if paying a parking fine isn’t frustrating enough, consider giving out your bank details to pay a fake fine and getting scammed in the process.
According to AutoscoopsCriminals in Calgary, Canada, are placing fake fines (that look convincingly real) on the windshields of parked vehicles in an attempt to steal online payments from unsuspecting citizens.
This form of phishing has also been spotted in other places, including New York City and California.
In Canada, the fake ticket features the Calgary Parking logo, along with the date of the alleged parking violation and the fine requested. The web address is close enough to the official address to trick drivers into thinking the ticket is valid, and some are tricked into entering their bank details to make the “payments.”
Autoscoops reports that the scammers are printing their own fake tickets and some are even placing QR codes on the fines, making it harder for victims to spot the fraudulent web addresses.
In New York, the scam is done via text message, according to a story on Kelley Blue Book. The message claims to be from “New York CityPay” and warns of a fake, unpaid parking bill of $2.50. If you don’t pay it, the bill will become $25.
Police advise potential victims to contact the agency that issued the ticket to verify that it is genuine. However, do not call the number on the ticket.