Police are warning motorists about fraudulent parking tickets that appear to be genuine and push victims to pay the “fine” by scanning a QR code, which might reveal a person’s personal and/or credit card information.
The Alhambra Police Department said on Instagram Tuesday that it has received many accusations of fake parking fines on vehicles.
“If you receive one of these citations, DO NOT scan the QR code,” the officials warned. “Scammers create QR codes to trick people into visiting a fraudulent website or downloading malware that could compromise their personal information.” “I believe it is dreadful. Garret Park, an Alhambra resident, told KTLA’s Ellina Abovian that it feels like anything you do these days requires extreme caution. “Now even parking. Everything nowadays is trying to gain your money. I feel like this is simply another one of those things that folks should be cautious about.”
The bogus citations resemble a store receipt with a QR code, and while one version of APD parking tickets appears in a similar format, the citation simply directs users to the city’s secure website, www.cityofalhambra.org.
The city’s police department also issues yellow parking citations in a white envelope.
Those who discover a fake parking citation or are unsure whether the ticket is authentic can contact the Alhambra PD Parking Section at 626-570-5119.
It is unclear how many phony parking fines were issued, or whether the suspect or suspects who placed the fraudulent citations on cars were wearing law enforcement uniforms.