Houstonians have recently been hit with a crafty scam that's catching unsuspecting drivers off guard. ParkHouston, the city's parking authority, has put out an alert regarding counterfeit parking citations that are being slapped onto windshields. These citations look real enough to fool drivers into paying fines that don't actually funnel into the city coffers, as reported by Click2Houston.
The faux tickets have been masquerading as the legitimate fines one might expect to receive after a parking mishap in downtown Houston. However, ParkHouston stressed that there are telltale signs to look out for, setting the real citations apart from fakes. A genuine parking citation from the City of Houston will be printed on pink NCR paper and will include specific violation codes as well as payment instructions on the back—features that the phony tickets lack, as detailed by KHOU.
To avoid real and fake parking tickets, ParkHouston shared some helpful tips. Use official payment apps like ParkHouston or ParkMobile, and make sure your license plate info is correct. Watch for time limits and tow-away zones. If you park in a private lot, check that the attendant’s uniform matches the lot’s signs and that you get a printed receipt. These steps can help you avoid fines and scams, as reported by KHOU.
If you find yourself doubting the legitimacy of a citation, look for the absence of the pink paper or any sort of QR code. Such indicators are clear signs that the ticket is probably not real. Should you need further confirmation, heading over to houstontx.gov/parking will guide you to the official channels where you can resolve any parking issues without falling into the scammers’ trap, as per KHOU.
