‘We don’t know your number,’ drivers warn after dozens were told to pay parking fines – but authorities say don’t pay

DOZENS of fake parking fines were texted to motorists telling them to pay.

Greedy fraudsters have also threatened to hit drivers with expensive penalties – but council bosses warn this is a scam.

The brazen scam sweeping Windsor, a city in Ontario, was exposed last Thursday by TVC News In Canada.

The new scam targets local drivers via text messages, claiming it’s time to pay their parking fine – or face an additional penalty.

The fake message still pretends to be official sent by the local authority.

But city bosses have stressed that if you get a dodgy message about a parking fine, it’s a scam – you don’t have a fine, so don’t try to pay it.

A spokesperson told the broadcaster that local council systems are not capable of sending this type of mass notification.

“Please, do not do that [pay the fake fine],” said Windsor Parking Services Coordinator Bill Kralovensky.

He said a “wave” of phone calls came in from concerned motorists last Wednesday, with at least 30 people asking how to pay the $60 parking fine they had received text messages about.

The message told drivers it was their last chance to pay the fine.

And those who click the link are directed to a fake website posing as a branch of the Ontario Court of Justice through EasyPark Payment – but it’s a scam.

Kralovensky confirmed that the city does not send text messages reminding people how to pay parking tickets — so it’s best to delete the random request if you receive it.

We don’t have crystal balls to get everyone’s phone number in the city of Windsor.

Bill Kralovensky, Parking Services Coordinator,City of Windsor, Ontario

“People are asking, you know, ‘how do I pay for this?’ And my team is like, ‘What are you talking about?’ he said.

“Our phone lines were lit [last Wednesday].

“We don’t know your phone number.

“We don’t have crystal balls to get everyone’s phone number in the city of Windsor; We cannot send anything via text message.

“It’s not legal, it’s not ethical.”

The employee said he was not aware of anyone falling victim to the scam – yet.

“We had heard about a [person] maybe two or three months ago when this came up and it was just an isolated case,” he added.

“But now… there must be a new wave of these and we received all the calls yesterday.

“As soon as you read the ticket number on them, it is not ours, it is a fake, please report it to the appropriate authorities.”

How to spot a fake parking ticket

Thieves sometimes go to great lengths to extract money from drivers

With parking ticket scams on the rise, it’s important to know how to tell the difference between a fake ticket and a legitimate one.

Many parking enforcement agencies, like those employed by cities, will never ask people to pay their fares through apps like Venmo, PayPal or Zelle.

A QR code should always alert drivers as they often lead to fake payment sites created by scammers to access banking or personal information.

It’s also wise to pay close attention to logos, as some scammers even use fake logos close enough to a city’s official logo, fooling those who don’t look closely.

Emails or text messages about parking tickets should always be ignored, as most parking enforcement agencies will never use these means to collect a debt.

Other useful tips for spotting fake citations:

• Do some research into the car park you are parking in, as it is legally required to post signs to inform drivers of who is enforcing the parking rules.
• Carefully examine the citation for any flaws – misspellings, incorrect logos, links, QR codes, etc.
• Review the contact information on the ticket. Sites belonging to cities will always end in .gov.
• Finally, pay by card as it is easier to dispute an illegal charge. Avoid sending checks or cash for a suspicious parking ticket.
• Check a city’s ticket database to see if you were cited by an official.

Source: CBS affiliate WHNT

Windsor police told CTV the force has not yet received any calls or complaints about this specific scam.

However, like city parking officials, police recommend it is best to notify authorities.

The force said anyone who received the text should notify police and call parking services.

“I think it’s scary,” said one resident.

Others told the station they refuse to respond to any messages from strange numbers.

“I receive a lot of questionable texts, I think you need to be careful, especially older people, as they are not always used to technology,” said one woman.

It turns out the Calgary Parking Authority has also warned drivers to be wary of fake parking tickets on their windshield.

O Federal Trade Commission has great tips on its website to help you avoid being scammed by ruthless scammers.

“Recent scams are costing people their life savings,” he added.

THINGS ONLY SCAMMERS SAY

Here are some tips from the FTC to prevent you from losing your money to fraudsters:

“Act now!” This is a high-pressure tactic used by scammers so you don’t have time to stop and think. But pressuring you to act now is always a sign of fraud. It’s also a reason to stop.

“Do not turn off.” This is also a scam. If someone wants to keep you on the phone while you withdraw or transfer money, buy gift cards, or whatever else they are asking for, they are a scammer. DISCONNECT.

“Move your money to protect it” it’s a scam. No one legitimate will tell you to transfer or withdraw money from your bank or investment accounts. But the scammers will.