After parking your car in a parking lot and using the meter for self-payment, it’s a routine task that many people do. However, this seemingly ordinary act can sometimes lead you into a scam.
On August 24th (Saturday), the Redondo Beach Police Department in Southern California, a popular tourist destination, warned the public and visitors that approximately 150 parking meters in the area had been tampered with fake payment QR codes. If individuals inadvertently scan these fake codes to make payments, they would fall victim to the scam.
According to the city news agency, the police discovered these counterfeit QR codes in the Esplanade and Riviera Village areas, placed next to the labels of legitimate parking payment companies like ParkMobile and PayByPhone. If someone scans the fake code, they will be redirected to a fraudulent website “paybyphone.online” and asked to input their location and personal payment information step by step.
It is worth noting that the fraudulent website address closely resembles the official website of the legitimate company PayByPhone.
Currently, in Redondo Beach, only ParkMobile and PayByPhone are authorized to collect parking fees. Both companies allow individuals to scan QR codes, download mobile apps, or visit official websites to pay for parking. Legitimate QR code scans will solely direct individuals to the official mobile app, not a disguised scam website.
City officials stated that all counterfeit QR code stickers have been removed by the police. Anyone who suspects they have been scammed can contact the Redondo Beach Police Department at 310-379-2477. Individuals who have received parking tickets after using counterfeit QR codes for payment can also reach out to the authorities.
The police also encourage the public to provide any information related to the case to track down the scammers’ legal responsibilities.
In fact, with various fraudulent methods emerging, similar scams are not limited to tourist spots but also occur in cities with Chinese communities.
On August 1st, the Alhambra Police Department, a city in Southern California with a significant Chinese population, issued a warning on social media: criminals were leaving fraudulent parking tickets on people’s cars.
The police stated that five local residents reported receiving fake parking violation tickets (with a payment QR code) and raised suspicions. The fake tickets were designed deceptively realistic, closely resembling genuine tickets issued by law enforcement agencies. After scanning the QR code, individuals were directed to a scam website and asked to pay a fine of $53. Fortunately, residents questioned the legitimacy of the tickets as it is unusual for residential areas to conduct street sweeping at night.
Authorities in Alhambra emphasized that this was entirely a scam since any legitimate tickets issued by the city do not include QR codes. The police remind the public to always verify the authenticity of any tickets they receive before making any payments.