PSA: Watch Out for This City Parking Meter Scam 

If you’re using parking meters in Lower Manhattan (or anywhere in the city), the Department of Transportation has issued a consumer alert about an ongoing scam targeting ParkNYC meters. Someone reported finding a sticker attached to a parking meter with a QR code purporting to lead people to a third-party payment app. The QR code is fraudulent and not associated with the official Park NYC app.

The NYC DOT has removed the offending sticker from the meter, and is reaching out to ParkNYC users to alert them about the scam; officials are also inspecting meters across the city for more fraudulent QR codes. 

As a reminder, you should only pay for parking meters using the official ParkNYC app or through the ParkNYC meter itself. If you do believe you’ve fallen victim to the scam, the DOT makes the following recommendations:

• Notify your bank or credit card company to inform them of this fraudulent charge.
• Report this crime to law enforcement.
• Report the parking meter location to ParkNYC at 212-839-7100 or via email at [email protected]

And if you see a QR code sticker on a meter, please remove it and contact ParkNYC at 212-839-7100 or via email at [email protected].

main photo: iStock