Scam says you owe money for a parking ticket in Columbus
NEW PHILADELPHIA – Another convincing-looking scam has made its way into Tuscarawas County.
In this one, the scammer texts an official-looking fake summons notifying the recipient of a parking violation in Columbus and asks the victim to scan a QR code to settle an unpaid balance. Some of the signs this is a scam: the summons doesn’t have the recipient’s name anywhere on the form; the Judge’s name – John Smith – is a pretty good giveaway, especially since it’s the same name as the Clerk of Courts listed at the bottom of the form, and it’s also the name used in the same scam across the country, from Baltimore to San Francisco.
Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell says don’t scan the QR code. If you do, it could give the scammer access to your phone or device and any personal information you have on there.
Campbell says there are four key indicators of a scam. They create a sense of urgency, they threaten punishment or promise a to-good-to-be-true reward, they involve an unusual payment method and the prompt is designed to create anxiety.
Campbell advises people to educate family members who might be vulnerable to scams and protect their own personal information.
If there is any doubt about a text or other communication, contact the agency directly not through any information you received in the communication.