Boston residents are getting scammed over parking tickets in the identical manner Massachusetts drivers have been scammed over toll charges, in line with the Boston Police Division.
Emails are indicating that residents owe parking ticket fines, however they’re really rip-off emails, in line with a BPD alert.
“Please be advised that these messages were NOT sent by the City of Boston,” the BPD wrote. “The Parking Clerk does not contact individuals by email or text about unpaid parking tickets.”
Those that obtain a parking ticket have 5 methods to pay, in line with the town’s “How to pay a parking ticket” web page.
These are: on-line by looking the quotation on the web site after which paying with a credit score or debit card; utilizing the Boston “Paytix” app; by mail by sending a letter itemizing the ticket and your car registration numbers, your identify and tackle and cost by private checks or cash orders payable to the Metropolis of Boston; by calling the workplace’s pay by cellphone system at 617-635-3888; and, lastly, by going in-person to the parking workplace at Metropolis Corridor, room 224.
“If you or someone you know has been victimized by this type of crime, please report the incident to the Boston Police Department. If you see criminal activity taking place, or are in need of police assistance, always call 9-1-1,” the police wrote.
The rip-off is much like the one reported by the Massachusetts Division of Transportation in January, during which folks have been receiving textual content messages demanding they pay toll fines via a hyperlink included within the texts.
The division’s recommendation is straightforward: “Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from EZDriveMA or another toll agency should not click on the link.”
The FBI says a typical rip-off textual content would appear like this: “(State Toll Service Name): We’ve noticed an outstanding toll amount of $12.51 on your record. To avoid a late fee of $50.00 …” with a .com web site listed.
Ignore that and go to the state EZDrive toll web page as a substitute.
