Police in Southern California Warn Residents to Beware of Parking Tickets That Look Like This
ALHAMBRA, Calif. – The Alhambra Police Department is alerting residents to a new scam that has surfaced in the area, urging drivers to scrutinize any parking tickets they find on their vehicles. Criminals are reportedly placing fake parking tickets on cars, complete with QR codes directing victims to "pay their fines." These tickets are designed to be highly convincing, mimicking those issued by the City of Alhambra Parking Enforcement and including detailed vehicle information and citation reasons.
Police emphasize that if you encounter a ticket resembling these fakes, do not scan the QR code. "Scammers create QR codes to trick people into visiting a fraudulent website or downloading malware that compromises their personal information," the department stated in a recent post.
<img alt="A fake traffic citation found on a vehicle in the city of Alhambra (Credit: Alhambra Police Department via Instagram)" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Ic3tQLtEPE9ZFurUUWaHIQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/kttv_fox_local_articles_818/4df39426a4fafb45c844b37b784fe3d1" class="caas-img">
A fake traffic citation found on a vehicle in the city of Alhambra (Credit: Alhambra Police Department via Instagram)
Another significant indicator that a ticket is fraudulent is the inclusion of a URL that directs to a website outside of the city's official domain. "We will only refer you to our safe and secure city website: www.cityofalhambra.org. If you are unsure, don’t hesitate to contact us," police advised the public.
To assist residents in identifying legitimate citations, the Alhambra Police Department shared images of the only two types of citations the city issues.
<img alt="Real traffic citations from the Alhambra Police Department (Credit: Alhambra Police Department via Instagram)" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OChtVjc07thlDi9xN78u8w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/kttv_fox_local_articles_818/c9d6043c0781c841a6fa52526057f612" class="caas-img">
Real traffic citations from the Alhambra Police Department (Credit: Alhambra Police Department via Instagram)
Officers are urging anyone who finds one of these fake tickets on their car to contact the Alhambra Police Department's Traffic Division at 626-570-5119. This proactive measure helps the police track and mitigate the spread of this scam, ensuring the safety and security of the community.