Summer events, shopping trips and travel stops can create opportunities for scammers targeting drivers in parking lots.
Rio Grande Credit Union is warning consumers to stay alert for parking lot scams, including fake attendants, bogus tickets and people who approach drivers with stories designed to get quick cash or personal payment information.
One common scheme involves someone posing as a parking attendant near a busy event. The person may direct drivers into a lot, collect payment and hand over a receipt or stub. Later, drivers may discover the lot was not authorized for event parking and their vehicle may have been towed by the property owner.
Another scam involves fake or misleading parking tickets. A driver may return to a vehicle and find what appears to be a citation, along with instructions to pay through a website or contact a supposed lawyer who can reduce the fine. The payment site or contact information may be fraudulent and designed to collect money or personal information.
Drivers should also be cautious when strangers approach them in parking lots asking for help with a card, phone payment, tow fee or other urgent request. Scammers often rely on pressure, confusion and sympathy to get people to act quickly before checking whether the story is legitimate.
Consumer-safety tips include using official parking lots with clear signage, checking for company names and contact information, paying through verified parking systems, avoiding payment links from unexpected notes or QR codes, and contacting the city, venue or parking company directly if a ticket or fee seems suspicious.
Anyone who believes they were targeted should document what happened, keep receipts or photos, contact their financial institution if payment information was shared and report suspected fraud to local authorities or consumer protection agencies.
