In an effort to tackle a recent uptick in downtown parking scams, the City of Raleigh is cautioning residents and visitors to be wary of fraudulent QR codes. On the last day of the year, the city's government social media page issued a warning to stay vigilant when parking downtown. "Please use the parking meter or the Passport parking app," the City of Raleigh - Government posted. People have been advised against scanning QR codes that could have been placed by scammers, as they might lead to fraudulent services or attempts to steal personal information.
According to the City of Raleigh, city staff are thoroughly inspecting all meters in areas known to be targeted. They have found placed by scammers at various locations the QR codes, designed to deceive individuals into thinking they're part of the city’s parking infrastructure. Citizens noticing anything out of the ordinary have been urged to report suspicious activity by calling the city at 919-996-3996, and to stick to the established methods of parking payment.
The use of a mobile parking app like Passport is projected as a more secure means of paying for parking, offering an added layer of convenience for users who prefer to handle transactions digitally. The city reiterated that it is crucial to download and use only the official parking app to avoid any risk of fraud. The official app and the parking meters in the city are the only authorized ways to pay for parking.
