The City of Dallas is warning residents to be on the lookout for a “phishing” parking ticket scheme targeting drivers across the country.
According to a Wednesday bulletin, Dallas residents and city staff received reports of fraudulent text messages requesting payment for alleged parking violations.
The texts mimic government-style language and direct recipients to unofficial links that request payment and personal information.
Make sure to verify your ticket information and submit payments through the payment portal on the city website.
The city does not reach out to parking ticketholders in this manner, and residents are advised to not click any links in these texts or input any personal information into these portals.
Learn more about legitimate City of Dallas parking fines and payment information by visiting the city’s website. If you have a question about whether a fine is legitimate, contact Parking Enforcement and Management at 214-948-5346. Additionally, you can send an email to TRNParkingServices@dallas.gov.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles issued a warning about a similar scam last summer in a campaign called “Don’t Click It. It’s Not a Ticket.”
“Texans should think twice before clicking on links in threatening text messages that falsely claim to be from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or similarly named agencies,” the warning reads.
The bulletin continues, “These texts often threaten immediate prosecution, suspension of vehicle registration, or loss of driving privileges. They typically include a link urging recipients to pay fines immediately to avoid further penalties. These scams are designed to steal personal and financial information.”