The City of San Diego is warning residents and visitors of a phishing scam that impersonates a City webpage requesting payment for parking citations. Through a message sent via SMS text message, recipients are notified of phony parking tickets, with instructions to click a link and pay the balance online.

The City’s cybersecurity team is working with authorities, including the San Diego Police Department, to take down the fraudulent webpage and identify those responsible. Anyone who receives the parking citation message in a text message is urged NOT to follow the links and to avoid entering credit card or payment information.

To verify the status of a parking citation or to safely make a payment online, visit sandiego.gov/parking/citations. Anyone who receives a text about parking citations should avoid clicking or following any link sent via text message and, instead, visit the City’s website or call Parking Administration at 866-470-1308. The phone number is monitored between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Community members are encouraged to remain vigilant regarding cybersecurity threats. To learn more, visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. For additional concerns or questions regarding parking enforcement, please contact the City’s Parking Administration office.