Phony Parking Tickets: How to Spot the New NC Scam

If you get a text or email saying you owe money for a parking violation in North Carolina, think twice before clicking any link. The state’s Attorney General has issued a warning about a scam that’s circulating right now, and it’s designed to look like an official notice from local parking authorities.

What’s Happening

According to the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ), scammers are sending unsolicited messages claiming the recipient has an unpaid parking ticket. The message usually includes a link to a payment portal that looks legitimate but is fake. The goal is to steal your money or personal information.

The scam isn’t completely new—similar DMV text scams have been reported earlier in 2025, as noted in a separate NCDOJ alert from June 2025. But the current wave appears to be more aggressive, with fraudsters impersonating parking enforcement in multiple cities and counties across the state.

Why It Matters

Parking tickets are common, and people tend to pay them without much thought. That’s exactly what scammers are banking on. They use urgent language—“Pay immediately to avoid additional fines”—and pressure you to act fast. The payment methods they request are often gift cards, wire transfers, or other untraceable options. If you fall for it, you lose the money and potentially expose your financial details.

Unlike a real parking ticket, which would be left on your windshield or mailed to you (and would reference your license plate or vehicle), these fake notices come out of the blue via text or email. They don’t include specifics like the date, location, or violation. They just demand payment.

How to Spot the Scam

Here are some red flags to watch for:

  • Unsolicited messages. If you didn’t park in a paid lot or receive a physical ticket recently, any demand for payment is suspicious.
  • Generic greetings. Scam messages often start with “Dear Driver” or “Dear Customer” instead of using your name.
  • Poor grammar or odd URLs. Official communications from city parking authorities are professionally written. A link that looks like “cityparking-pay.net” instead of the city’s official domain is a giveaway.
  • Payment via gift card or wire transfer. Legitimate parking authorities accept credit cards or checks—they won’t ask you to buy a gift card and share the code.
  • Urgency and threats. Real government agencies don’t threaten immediate escalation over text.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message

Do not click the link. Do not reply. Instead, take these steps:

  1. Verify independently. Go to your city or county’s official website to check how parking tickets are handled. Many have a portal where you can look up tickets by license plate.
  2. Contact the local parking authority. Use a phone number from the official website, not from the message.
  3. Report it. File a complaint with the NCDOJ Consumer Protection Division at ncdoj.gov or call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

What If You Already Paid?

If you’ve already sent money or shared credit card details, act quickly:

  • Contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge and issue a stop payment if possible.
  • Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication on any accounts you may have compromised.
  • File a report with local law enforcement, especially if you lost a significant amount.
  • Notify the NCDOJ and the FTC so they can track the scam and alert others.

Staying Safe Going Forward

Scams evolve, but the pattern is predictable: they create a sense of urgency and use official-sounding language. The best defense is to slow down. Real parking tickets come through official channels, not as random texts with payment links.

Spread the word to family and friends—especially older adults who may be less familiar with digital scams. The more people know what to look for, the harder it is for scammers to succeed.

Sources:

  • NCDOJ consumer alert (March 2026) – new parking violation scam targeting NC drivers.
  • NCDOJ press release (June 2025) – Attorney General Jeff Jackson warns about DMV text scams.
  • FTC consumer advice on government impostor scams.