The City of San Diego is warning residents about a new scam impersonating a City webpage and requesting payment for fake parking citations. Scammers are sending text messages with phony ticket notifications and a fraudulent payment link. Please do not use that link to make any citation payment.

The City’s cybersecurity team and the San Diego Police Department are working to shut down the fraudulent page and find those responsible. If you receive one of these scam texts, you are asked to report it.

This latest fraud attempt follows a similar scam from last January. Residents are urged to remain vigilant, as scammers may attempt to create new fraudulent sites. The City reminds the public that official parking citations will never be issued via text message, nor will the City request payment through an unsolicited text.

What to Do if You Receive a Suspicious Message

• Do not click any links in the message.
• Do not enter any personal or payment information.
• Verify any parking citation by visiting the official City website at sandiego.gov/parking/citations or by calling Parking Administration at 866-470-1308 (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
• Report phishing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the City’s cybersecurity team by emailing cybersecurity@sandiego.gov.

The City of San Diego remains committed to protecting residents from digital threats and will continue working with law enforcement to combat online fraud. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious messages and stay informed about cybersecurity best practices.