In case you obtained an odd textual content message this weekend claiming you’ve an unpaid parking bill in Denver, you’re not alone.
The Metropolis and County of Denver says the message is a rip-off.
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It was a textual content that took Denver resident Samantha Oberg abruptly.
“I acquired a textual content message from my father asking me to be extra cautious parking downtown. Since I used to be borrowing his automotive, I used to be like, tremendous confused. I did not perceive what was occurring. I used to be sending him the receipts of the car parking zone that I had parked in,” she instructed Denver7.
That’s when Oberg’s dad forwarded her a textual content that he’d acquired, warning of an unpaid parking bill.
“It was legit and every thing. That they had the Denver brand. That they had somewhat mint mark within the background. It regarded very official,” she stated.
However a better look gave it away.
“There was a misplaced interval in there,” she recalled.
To not point out, the textual content got here from a Toronto space code.
Whenever you kind within the URL in query, you might be taken to a webpage that appears almost similar to what you’d see on the Metropolis and County of Denver web site.
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Nevertheless, that is what the precise “Pay a Parking Ticket” web page on the metropolis’s web site seems to be like.
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Lots of you’ve been calling our newsroom and sharing comparable tales on social media this weekend.
On Sunday, the town confirmed they didn’t ship the textual content—as an alternative, it was a rip-off trying to acquire your private and monetary info.
Denver’s Division of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) says it doesn’t use textual content messaging to inform folks about unpaid parking tickets — solely unsolicited mail.
It’s not simply Denver, comparable texts have been reported in locations like Boston, Houston, and San Diego prior to now few days.
“Governments are a frequent goal for unhealthy actors, and we’re monitoring different municipalities which might be additionally seeing comparable phishing assaults,” stated Merlin Namuth, Denver’s chief info safety officer. “As a metropolis, we’re at all times vigilant to all these assaults.”
Denver’s Division of Expertise Companies is now issuing a public warning in regards to the rising prevalence of cybersecurity scams that seem to have come from the town.
Denver presents the next tricks to shield your self in opposition to on-line scammers:
- Be cautious of suspicious emails, texts, and calls – particularly ones that specific a way of urgency or strain.
- Ensure to examine the sender’s e mail handle and all URLs to make sure that the communication is coming from the town: denvergov.org.
- By no means click on on hyperlinks or open attachments from unknown senders. If you’re uncertain if the sender is from the town, name 311.
- Be cautious of unsolicited presents, donations, or requests for private info.
- Use sturdy, distinctive passwords for all on-line accounts.
- Be aware of what info you share on-line.
- Report suspected scams to the suitable authorities.
Metropolis and County of Denver warns residents of unpaid parking ticket rip-off
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