Urgent fraud warning for drivers: Beware of fake parking tickets
Reports from the center of the country describe notes appearing to be official, placed on windshields and demanding payment of hundreds of shekels, while behind the innocent QR code hides a sophisticated scam.
A new warning for drivers in the center of the country: a sophisticated scam attempt using fake parking tickets. The image provided shows a note that mimics an official ticket for 500 shekels for parking in a prohibited place, including a QR code for scanning and quick payment.
A post that appeared in the Secret Tel Aviv Facebook group by a concerned resident revealed a fake ticket that includes a notice number, details of legal clauses, and a warning that failure to pay within seven business days will result in late fees and legal proceedings. The prominent QR code in the center of the note is intended to entice drivers to scan it using their mobile phone and transfer their money directly to the scammers' bank accounts.
From the Secret Tel Aviv Facebook page
The current wave of fraud is not the first of its kind. Less than a year ago, an almost identical scam hit the streets of Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Petah Tikva. As reported at the time by Mako and Mynet, many complaints were received by the police and the National Cyber Directorate, which led to an extensive investigation and the arrest of suspects who posed as municipal inspectors.
Law enforcement authorities and the Cyber Directorate have repeatedly warned drivers not to rush to pay tickets via QR codes left on vehicle windshields. Experts recommend verifying the validity of the ticket independently only through the official websites of the municipalities, and in case of doubt, to contact the municipal call center directly.
