Beware of fake parking tickets on your windshield with fake fines

Scammers are now going both on and offline to target new unwitting victims. The new scam is that these criminals are now targeting people via text and fake parking tickets.

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/or their personal information is stolen. Before you judge these victims for falling for such an “obvious” scam, these text messages look professional and sometimes include a QR code along with the city or parking authority logo.

Scammers use receipts that look similar to traditional parking tickets to leave on their victim’s windshield. These fake parking tickets often have a QR code that, once scanned by the victims, directs them to a fake website where their money and/or personal information is stolen.

As scammers are, unfortunately, infiltrating every aspect of life both on and offline, it is crucial to stay mindful when you run into a situation where your information or a financial transaction is being required. And while time may be of the essence in handling a parking ticket that could accrue multiple fees, it is just as important to slow down and assess the situation at hand.

Scammers are getting more and more clever about finding new ways to trick you and steal your hard-earned money and private information. It is crucial, now more than ever, to stay vigilant about daily life circumstances, both online and offline, that require you to engage with an urgent call to action (such as clicking a link, scanning a code or calling a number to rectify a problem). Unfortunately, the best course of action in this day and age is to pause, confirm and verify before jumping to action, even if it feels like you only need to pay a nominal fee to solve a quick problem. Even if your financial information isn’t gathered, these scammers can combine together a certain amount of mayhem with pieces of personal information gathered about you. Stop and think before you respond to both online and offline requests for your reaction.