HOUSTON – Reports of fake parking tickets are on the rise as consumers were reportedly scammed by tickets that looked surprisingly real.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says scammers are using new technology such as high-tech, handheld printers to create fake parking tickets that look similar to official tickets from police officers, even if drivers are confident they have parked legally.
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Scammers use these printers to create a fake ticket and leave it on your car’s windshield and it’ll usually ask you to pay online via PayPal, CashApp or via QR code. It is also a tactic for them to steal personal information.
The BBB also says out-of-state tourists are scammers’ preferred target as they need to familiarize themselves with local parking laws.
If you’re parking somewhere, here’s what you need to know:
- Know before you park - Before parking at a new place, make sure you know what the requirements are.
- Examine the ticket carefully - Some parking tickets may have fake city logos and office names, and can also have a website. Do your research on the internet and search for the city’s official parking website and compare the info. Keep in mind that government sites, such as Houston Police Department or the City of Houston, end in a .gov designation.
- Double-check the names -- where should the check be made out to? - If the payment requires a check, double-check the name and address and make sure it’s a government organization, not a string of names.
To learn more about parking ticket scams, click here.