Denver Residents Warned of Parking Invoice Scam
Denver residents were startled over the weekend by a fraudulent text message claiming they had an unpaid parking invoice, prompting the City and County of Denver to confirm the message as a scam. This deceptive communication reached several individuals, including resident Samantha Oberg, who initially received a warning from her father about an unpaid ticket while borrowing his car.
Oberg’s confusion deepened when her father shared the text he received, which appeared official, complete with the Denver logo. However, a closer examination revealed inconsistencies, including a misplaced period in the text and an unfamiliar Toronto area code. The URL linked to a fake website that closely mimicked the City of Denver’s legitimate parking ticket payment page, further trying to divert residents into divulging personal and financial data.
On Sunday, the City confirmed that no such messages had been sent, reiterating that they only communicate about unpaid parking tickets through direct mail. Similar scams have also been reported in other cities, such as Boston, Houston, and San Diego, indicating a broader phishing threat.
Merlin Namuth, Denver’s chief information security officer, warned that government entities often become targets for these attacks. To safeguard against potential scams, the city emphasizes vigilance against unsolicited communications and advises residents to verify the authenticity of any contact claiming to be from the city.
The Denver Department of Technology Services is now actively alerting the public about the rising instances of cyber scams, encouraging caution with unknown contacts and urging residents to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. Residents are reminded to remain vigilant and protect their personal information amid increasing online threats.