Have you received a text message that looks like it’s from the “City of Huston” trying to collect an $ 4.35 unpaid parking ticket at Parkinghou.com? Beware – it’s a scam.
This article will provide an in-depth look at how the Parkinghou.com scam works, what to do if you’ve fallen victim, and how to protect yourself going forward.
Overview of the Parkinghou.com Scam
The Parkinghou.com scam involves receiving a text message that appears to be from the City of Houston requesting payment for an unpaid parking ticket. The message will say something like:
“This is a notice from City of Huston. Your vehicle has an unpaid parking invoice of $4.35. To avoid a late fees of 35$, please settle your balance promptly.”
It then provides a link to a website, Parkinghou.com, where you can supposedly pay the fine. However, the website is fraudulent and set up to steal your personal and credit card information.
This scam takes advantage of people’s fear of getting in trouble for unpaid tickets. The message sounds official and urgent, tricking people into clicking the link and providing their information without thinking it through.
While the City of Houston does issue parking tickets, they would never contact you requesting payment via text with a link to a third-party website. This is a huge red flag that indicates a scam.
Unfortunately, many people fall for this con and end up having their identities stolen or bank accounts drained. The scammers are able to collect personal information like your name, birth date, address, and more. And when you try to pay the “ticket,” they steal your credit card number, security code, and other payment details.
This scam has been rampant across Texas and other states, with phony “City of Huston” texts being reported in cities like Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and others. Hundreds of unsuspecting people have fallen victim.
It’s important to be aware of this con so you can protect yourself. Keep reading to learn exactly how the Parkinghou.com scam works and what actions to take if you’ve been targeted.
How the Parkinghou.com Scam Works
Here is a step-by-step look at how the Parkinghou.com parking ticket scam operates:
1. You Receive a Text About an Unpaid Ticket
You’ll get a text message that appears to be from a city government, often saying it’s the “City of Huston.” The message will say that your vehicle has an outstanding parking ticket that needs to be paid.
The amount of the fake ticket is usually small, around $4-$10. This makes the message seem more legitimate and gets people to act quickly without thinking it through.
The text will emphasize that you need to pay promptly to avoid additional late fees, making it sound urgent. This gets people to panic and click the link without doing further research.
2. The Text Provides a Link to Parkinghou.com
The scam text will provide a link, typically Parkinghou.com, where you can supposedly pay the unpaid ticket immediately.
The link may be shortened or disguised as a real municipal website, but it ultimately leads to Parkinghou.com or a nearly identical fraudulent site.
The scam website is designed to look somewhat official, with mentions of the specific city and parking authority. But a closer look reveals red flags like grammar and spelling errors.
3. You Input Personal and Payment Information
When you click the link, you are taken to the Parkinghou.com website. It has an online form where you can input information to supposedly pay the parking ticket.
First, you’ll be prompted to provide personal details like your full name, birth date, address, phone number, and email address.
Then you’ll enter payment information, including credit/debit card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing details.
The site claims all this is required to process your parking ticket payment. In reality, they are stealing this sensitive information.
4. The Scammers Steal Your Information
Once you click submit on the payment form, the scammers behind Parkinghou.com have your personal and financial details. They can use this information to steal your identity, drain your bank account, and commit other forms of fraud.
The website itself is a scam. No payment is actually processed, and your supposed parking ticket remains unpaid. But the scammers still have your information.
You’ll likely receive no confirmation, tracking info, or receipt after submitting payment. The scammers take your money and personal data and move on to the next victim.
5. You Suffer Financial Loss or Identity Theft
In the aftermath, you may notice fraudulent charges on your credit card from the submitted payment information. Or you could experience bigger problems like bank account draining or identity theft.
Your personal details like name, birth date, and address can be used to steal your identity and commit all types of fraud in your name. This can harm your finances and credit score.
If you receive bills or debt collection notices for an unpaid parking ticket that you thought you paid, that’s a sign your payment was fraudulent.
You may need to cancel credit cards, dispute fraudulent charges, monitor your credit reports, or take other steps to minimize damage from the scam.
Here is a section clearly stating that Parkinghou.com is a scam and not the legitimate City of Houston parking website:
Parkinghou.com is a FAKE Website – Do Not Enter Information
It’s important to note that Parkinghou.com is a fraudulent website that mimics the official City of Houston ParkHouston parking portal, but is not legitimate.
Any text messages or emails directing you to pay a parking citation on Parkinghou.com are scams. The website may use official logos and branding, but it is a scam designed solely to steal your personal and financial information.
Parkinghou.com has no affiliation with the City of Houston. They do not have access to any parking ticket databases or payment systems. Any tickets or citations referenced are completely fabricated by scammers to trick you.
The legitimate and ONLY official website for paying City of Houston parking citations is:
https://www.houstontx.gov/parking
This is the official ParkHouston website run by the City of Houston to allow residents to pay and appeal real parking tickets. It is a secure .gov site that will not steal your information.
In summary, steer clear of Parkinghou.com and any links, texts, or emails directing you there. These are malicious scams aiming to steal your identity and money. Only use the official ParkHouston website at https://www.houstontx.gov/parking to pay any real parking citations you have received from the City of Houston.
What to Do If You’re Targeted by This Scam
If you receive one of these suspicious parking ticket texts, or already submitted payment through Parkinghou.com, here are important steps to take:
- Don’t pay anything further. If you received a scam ticket text but haven’t paid yet, do not provide any personal or financial details. The website is a scam.
- Call your city’s parking authority. Contact your local city government’s parking enforcement office to report the scam text. Verify whether you actually have any unpaid tickets.
- Check your bank and credit card statements. Look for any fraudulent charges from Parkinghou.com or other suspicious transactions. Report unauthorized charges to your bank.
- Change passwords. Change the passwords on all of your financial accounts and any accounts that use the same password. Scammers may try to access other accounts with stolen login info.
- Place fraud alerts. Contact the major credit bureaus to place fraud alerts on your credit reports to help prevent identity theft. Equifax: 1-888-766-0008, Experian: 1-888-397-3742, TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289.
- Monitor your credit reports. Get copies of your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Check them for signs of fraudulent accounts or charges. Look for this at least once a month.
- File an FTC complaint. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission to help warn others and assist in catching the scammers. You can file a complaint at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Report it to the FCC. Since the initial contact was via text, report the scam text to the Federal Communications Commission at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
- Warn contacts. Alert your friends and family about the scam text so they don’t fall victim too. Share information about the scam on social media to spread awareness.
- Learn more about scams. Visit https://www.usa.gov/common-scams-frauds for more information on common online and mobile phone scams and identity theft protection. The more you know, the less likely you’ll fall for a scam.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Parkinghou.com Scam
1. What is the Parkinghou.com scam?
The Parkinghou.com scam involves receiving a text message claiming you have an unpaid parking ticket. The message provides a link to a fake website, Parkinghou.com, to pay the supposed fine. However, the website is a scam to steal your personal and financial information.
2. How does the Parkinghou.com scam work?
You’ll receive a text claiming to be from a city government saying your car has an outstanding parking ticket. It will urge you to pay promptly through a link to avoid late fees. The link goes to a fake website, Parkinghou.com, that asks for your personal and payment info to process the fine. But it’s really just stealing your details.
3. What cities is this scam active in?
These fraudulent texts pretending to be from the parking authority have been reported in cities across Texas including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. The texts often say they are from the “City of Huston.”
4. What are some red flags of the Parkinghou.com scam?
Red flags include getting a text instead of mail about an unpaid ticket, typos/grammar errors, threats of additional fees, urgency to pay quickly, links to sketchy websites, and requests for too much personal information.
5. What information do the scammers ask for?
The fraudulent Parkinghou.com website asks for your full name, birth date, address, phone, email, credit card number, expiration date, CVV code, and other details. They claim this is to process your parking ticket payment but really they just steal it.
6. What do the scammers do with my information?
The scammers use your personal and financial details to commit identity theft, drain your bank account, make fraudulent charges, and commit other types of fraud in your name.
7. What are signs I may have fallen victim?
Signs include unauthorized charges on your credit card, bank account withdrawals, bills for unpaid tickets you thought you paid, creditors calling about debts not yours, and other signs of identity theft.
8. What should I do if I shared information on Parkinghou.com?
- Contact banks & card issuers ASAP if you entered payment info
- Place fraud alerts with the credit bureaus
- Monitor credit reports and bank statements for suspicious activity
- Report it to the FTC, FCC, parking authority, and other agencies
- Warn friends and family about the scam
9. How can I avoid falling for the Parkinghou.com scam?
- Never click links or provide info from suspicious texts about unpaid tickets. Always contact the parking authority directly to verify.
- Look out for typos, threats, and other red flags in any parking ticket notices.
- Carefully examine links and website URLs before providing payment or personal details.
- Only pay fines directly through official city government websites and offices.
- If unsure, search online for “[city name] parking authority” and call to confirm.
10. Who can I contact for more help with the Parkinghou.com scam?
Contact your local police department’s fraud division for assistance. You can also file complaints with the FTC (IdentityTheft.gov) and FCC (consumercomplaints.fcc.gov) about this scam. Check out USA.gov for more information on common scams and fraud protection.
The Bottom Line
The Parkinghou.com scam is a dangerous fraud preying on innocent people just trying to pay their bills. The fraudulent texts and website are designed to steal personal and financial information for criminal purposes.
If you receive a text about an unpaid parking ticket that seems suspicious, do not click any links or provide information. Contact your municipal parking department directly to verify. Be extremely cautious about any text or call requesting you pay a fine via an outside website.
Unfortunately, many people do get fooled by this scam before they realize the texts are phony. If you did provide information, take steps immediately to protect yourself from identity theft and financial loss. Monitor your bank accounts and credit reports closely for signs of fraudulent activity. Report the scam to help prevent others from being victimized.
With awareness and vigilance, we can avoid falling for the Parkinghou.com scam and other similar parking ticket cons. Don’t become a victim – know the signs of phishing texts and fraudulent websites. If an unpaid fine request seems fishy, trust your instincts and verify it through official channels first. Stay alert and informed, and outsmart these sneaky scammers.
