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Houston Officials Warn About Rising Fake Parking Citations

Residents should know how to identify between genuine and counterfeit parking citations in Houston.

News Summary

The City of Houston is alerting residents to a rise in counterfeit parking citations that resemble legitimate tickets. These fake citations are printed on non-pink paper, lack essential details, and feature inflated fees. Citizens are advised to verify the authenticity of any tickets they receive and to use authorized payment methods to avoid scams. Additionally, fraudulent text messages demanding payment for unpaid tickets have been reported, heightening the need for vigilance against parking-related fraud.

Houston Officials Issue Warning About Fake Parking Citations

The City of Houston is cautioning residents about a surge of fake parking citations being placed on vehicles throughout the city. The city’s parking management division, ParkHouston, has reported that counterfeit tickets resembling real parking violations are being distributed.

Many of these fake citations can easily be mistaken for legitimate ones due to their similar appearance; however, they have significant differences that can help residents identify them. Official parking citations from the City of Houston are printed on pink NCR paper and contain specific details about the violation on the back. In contrast, the fraudulent tickets appear on non-pink paper and often lack crucial information such as violation codes. They also do not include any instructions on how to submit payment or contest the ticket, which are standard on authentic citations.

Another alarming feature of the fake citations is the inflated fee tiers that some may contain. Unlike authentic tickets, whose fees are predefined, these fraudulent citations often list escalating fees that increase as time goes on, adding to the confusion and possible financial burden on unsuspecting vehicle owners.

City officials have urged residents who suspect they have received a fake citation to verify its authenticity. The best way to ensure compliance with parking regulations is to utilize authorized payment methods, including the official ParkHouston app or ParkMobile. Additional payment options are available, such as texting “PARK” to 77223, using Google Pay, or paying by credit card or cash.

To avoid parking violation issues altogether, ParkHouston recommends confirming the accuracy of license plate numbers while parking, adhering strictly to time limits, and staying vigilant for emergency no parking zones.

Fraudulent Text Messages

Residents should note that ParkHouston does not send texts regarding unpaid invoices, although they do work with a collections vendor who occasionally communicates with customers about outstanding citations. If anyone receives a suspicious text message relating to unpaid parking fees, the City advises deleting it immediately and blocking the sender to avoid further scams.

Background and Context

The rise in fake parking citations aligns with broader fraud trends where scammers target unsuspecting individuals with imitation legal documents or penalties. Houston city officials have taken proactive measures to alert residents about these scams in hopes of protecting them from potential financial loss and confusion. The community is encouraged to remain aware and informed regarding legitimate communications from the city concerning parking violations and associated payments.

Overall, the City of Houston emphasizes the importance of vigilance both in recognizing legitimate parking citations and in spotting potential fraud. Reporting any suspicious activities to local authorities helps improve public safety and deter further scams.