Taking Action Against Parking Scams: Stop. Verify. Report.
Paying for parking online is convenient and makes life better for Calgarians every day. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and it's the perfect time to remind everyone how important it is to stay safe online—especially when you're paying for parking. With more people using online parking payment options, protecting yourself from phishing attacks is important.
Parking-related phishing scams are becoming more common and tricky to spot as they usually look like real messages from trusted sources. However, with the right knowledge and tools, you can protect yourself from these phishing attacks. Here are three simple steps to follow if you ever receive a suspicious or unusual parking-related e-mail or text message:
- STOP: Scammers often create a sense of urgency. Take the time to double-check the details before paying. Learn more about paying for parking tickets at www.calgaryparking.com/tickets
- VERIFY: If you are unsure about suspicious e-mails or text messages about unpaid parking tickets, you can verify parking tickets online by visiting https://ParkingTickets.CalgaryParking.com.
- REPORT: If you have any information about these misleading e-mails or texts, please report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (Toll-Free at 1-888-495-8501). For questions, concerns, or support, we're happy to help – contact Calgary Parking at 403-537-7000 or parking@calgary.ca.
Some other easy-to-follow tips to stay cyber-safe when paying online for parking services include:
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi: When paying for parking tickets online, don't use public Wi-Fi. Using your own data or a secure, private Wi-Fi network is safer.
- Be cautious with e-mails and texts: Don't click on links in suspicious e-mails or texts about parking payments.
- Check URLs Carefully: Be mindful of fake parking websites that look like The Official Calgary Parking Website. Scammers often use slight changes to trick you.
By following these simple tips, you can enjoy the convenience of paying for parking online without worrying about your personal information being at risk. Stay cyber-safe and have peace of mind every time you park.
Share what you know with friends and family. For more information on reporting phishing attacks, preventing phishing attacks, and how to tell if you're a victim of a phishing attack, please visit Phishing and E-mail Safety (calgary.ca).
What is Phishing?
Phishing is when cybercriminals pretend to be someone you trust to trick you into giving them sensitive information. In parking-related phishing scams, they might:
- Send fake e-mails or text messages that look like they're from your city's parking authority or a legitimate parking app.
- Create fake websites or apps that look official but are designed to steal your personal information.
- Trick you into paying fake parking fines or fees using illegitimate payment platforms.
Why should I care about phishing-related parking scams?
Paying for parking online is super convenient, but it's important to keep your personal information safe while doing it. Cybercriminals are getting more creative every day, and parking-related phishing attacks are rising. With the rise of much-needed digital parking solutions, cybercriminals are finding new ways to target people with phishing attacks related to parking payments. These scams aim to steal your personal information and financial details or even trick you into making payments to unauthorized sources.
Why is Calgary Parking sharing this information about parking scams now?
Parking-related phishing scams are becoming more common as Calgarians use online payment portals to handle parking payments. We are providing more information on how to spot parking-related phishing attempts so that Calgarians who pay online for parking services are empowered with safe parking payment practices to help avoid becoming victims of parking-related phishing.
What should I do if I have been scammed?
If you think you've fallen for a scam or provided personal information:
- Contact your bank or credit card company if any of your financial information was used.
- File a complaint with the Calgary Police Service by calling 403-266-1234 and obtaining a police case number.
- Give your police case number to your bank and credit card company to place on file.
- Provide the police case number to either of the two credit bureau companies, Equifax or TransUnion in Canada.
- If you haven't done so, report the phishing to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.
- Run an anti-virus scan on your computer.
- Check your e-commerce accounts, such as PayPal, eBay and Amazon.
- Tell your friends and family to be wary of suspicious e-mails from you.
- Change your passwords.
Categories: Safety
