Parking Ticket Scams: How to Identify and Avoid Them

A suspicious parking demand should be checked independently before you pay or share information. This guide explains warning signs and what to do if you have already responded.

Here is our quick guide to parking ticket scams. In this article, we’ll take a look at:

• What a parking scam is
• How parking scams work
• How to spot a fake ticket
• How to deal with a fake ticket
• What you can do if you pay a fake ticket.

What is a parking ticket scam?

Have you ever wondered how a parking ticket scam works? It’s actually quite simple.

Scammers ‘stake out’ a busy street and wait for someone to park – ideally someone who hasn’t parked legally so the ticket is more believable. The scammer can then quickly print out a ticket that looks official and stick it to the windshield.

The fake ticket will have some official-looking information on how to pay it, but this is usually a fake website that will give your money to the scammer. They will also now have your payment information, often meaning this is a phishing scam. 

As part of our research, we’ve found some people reporting that they’ve received emails telling people that they have outstanding parking tickets that are going to become a legal issue soon. These emails then include a link which presumably takes them to a fake payment website or downloads malware.

How to spot a fake parking ticket

Believing you parked correctly does not prove a notice is fake. It may be a genuine notice issued in error or one you can challenge. Verify the issuer and notice independently, then use the proper appeal route if needed.

But parking rules can be complicated, especially when on private land, so you can’t always be sure that you haven’t made a parking infraction. What do you do then? 

The easiest way to avoid a fake parking ticket is to know what to look for. While every fake parking ticket might look a bit different, there are some key identifiers:

• Spelling errors: Any spelling error on your ticket is suspicious, no matter if your ticket is on your windscreen or posted to you.
• Logo errors: As with spelling, any logo errors are suspicious. Basic errors like these suggest your ticket has not been sent from a professional body or organisation. 
• Sender address: Take a look at the sender or issuer’s address and verify it – a legitimate ticket issuer should have their address available on the internet.

What types of fake parking tickets are there?

Fake tickets can be received in a few different ways:

• Email
• Stuck to your windscreen
• Sent in the post.

Fake parking ticket emails

Unexpected ticket emails or texts can be scams, especially when claiming to be from an agency that does not issue parking fines. However, an email alone does not prove fraud: legitimate operators can send agreed electronic correspondence. Verify through the issuer’s independently checked official website and do not use suspicious links.

Do not pay through a suspicious email or follow its links. Verify the notice independently; a genuine issuer may also correspond electronically, so preserve any real response deadline.

Fake parking ticket stuck to windscreen

You can quite easily get hold of ‘joke’ parking tickets that look realistic, which can fool an unsuspecting motorist. 

If you get a ticket stuck to your windshield that you think is fake, don’t forget that you can verify your ticket with the supposed actual issuer. You can do this with the vehicle information or by the issuing number. 

Just don’t use the contact information on the ticket! Search for the issuer’s contact information to make sure that you’re not just contacting a scammer.

Fake parking ticket sent in the post

As a ticket stuck to your window, follow the same steps as you would with a ticket on your windscreen.

Make sure to verify the ticket with contact information you’ve found on the internet. Use the issuing number or vehicle information to make sure that it’s legit before you pay.

What do I do if I receive a fake ticket?

If you think that you have received a fake ticket, the first thing you need to do is not panic. 

You should then try to verify the parking ticket to make sure that it is a fake. Some strong indicators are:

• Spelling mistakes
• Incorrect logos
• Incorrect sender address
• Non-standard email address
• Unexpected pressure to pay through an unusual link, QR code or personal bank account is a warning sign. Genuine deadlines vary, so verify the demand independently rather than relying on a 14- or 28-day test.

Think that you have a fake ticket but aren’t 100% sure? You can contact the official issuer of your ticket. 

We recommend that you look up the contact information for the official issuer yourself and don’t use any contact information on the suspected fake ticket. The same goes for emailed tickets – look up the contact information and don’t follow any links within the email. 

Your ticket issuer should be able to give you information about it – the number, when and where it was issued, and to whom it was issued. A fake ticket probably won’t be able to corroborate this information.

Report fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland through Report Fraud. In Scotland, report it to Police Scotland on 101. Keep the notice, screenshots, payment details and correspondence.

Feel more confident before you send your appeal

Writing a parking appeal can be difficult when you’re not sure what to include or how to structure it.

Our free template gives you a clear starting point, helping you:

• Set out what happened clearly
• Explain why you’re disputing the charge
• Include the important details
• Avoid starting from a blank page

Simply adapt the template to your own circumstances before sending it.

Get my free appeal template

Free parking appeal letter template from MoneyNerd.

How to avoid the scam

Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee that you won’t get a parking ticket, but there are some things that you can do to help protect yourself.

• Do your research before you park: If you are going somewhere new, do your research to ensure you know the rules and where you can park. People from out-of-town are less likely to know local rules and regulations, so they are more likely to pay a fraudulent ticket, not realising that it’s a scam.
• Look at the ticket carefully: Make sure you look at your ticket and search for any errors, such as spelling or logos. Also, make sure that the official issuing authority is correct.
• Verification: You can verify your ticket with the official issuer to see if it is legitimate. Making sure they have the correct issuing number and vehicle information is a good place to start.

What do I do if I paid the ticket?

Paid a ticket but now think that it was fake? There are a few things that you can do.

If you have paid a suspected scam or disclosed financial details, contact your bank or card provider immediately through its official app or a verified number. Ask it to protect your account and explain possible recovery options; do not wait for the supposed issuer to reply. A real notice can be copied by a scammer, so also verify where the payment went.

But if they can’t, you might have paid a fake ticket. But don’t panic. There are several groups or organisations that you can contact to get some free and specific advice. 

Contact the bank promptly even if you are unsure. Explain what you paid, how you paid and what information you disclosed, and follow its fraud-prevention instructions. A refund is not guaranteed and depends on the payment method, facts and applicable protections.