The City of Windsor is cautioning residents about a scam involving text messages claiming to be from the parking enforcement department, demanding payment for overdue parking tickets.
Bill Kralovensky, the parking services co-ordinator, revealed that the city was inundated with approximately 30 calls on Wednesday from concerned individuals who had received the fraudulent messages.
“Our phone lines were ringing off the hook,” Kralovensky stated. “We had about 30 calls from people asking how to pay this alleged parking ticket. My staff were confused because we do not send out text messages for this purpose.”
He emphasized that the City of Windsor does not use text messages to remind individuals about outstanding parking fines, urging anyone who receives such a message to contact official parking authorities or the Windsor Police instead.
“This is a scam and it did not originate from the City of Windsor,” Kralovensky clarified. “We do not have access to personal phone numbers or send notifications through text messages. It is neither legal nor ethical for us to do so.”
The only legitimate way that the city communicates about unpaid parking tickets is through Canada Post, according to Kralovensky. He also mentioned that this scam is not exclusive to Windsor and has been reported in other municipalities as well.
“We heard of a similar incident a few months ago, but it seemed like an isolated case. However, the sudden surge in reports yesterday indicates a new wave of these fraudulent messages,” Kralovensky explained.
“If you receive a text message claiming to be from us, check the ticket number with our staff immediately. They will confirm that it is a scam. Please report such incidents to the authorities promptly.”
Despite the increase in reports to the city, Windsor Police confirmed that they had not received any recent complaints or concerns related to this scam.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant and cautious of any unexpected messages demanding payment for parking tickets, especially if they are sent via text. It is essential to verify the legitimacy of such communications with official sources before taking any action to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes.