In recent days, residents from the Hudson Valley are receiving deceptive text messages falsely claiming they have unpaid parking tickets that require immediate payment, introducing the NYC City-Pay Unpaid Parking Invoice text scam. These messages, designed to incite urgency and fear, are luring unsuspecting individuals into sharing personal information and credit card details with cybercriminals.

Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) is cautioning residents to take the appropriate steps necessary to avoid this scam. He encourages those who receive suspicious messages or believe they have been targeted by this scam to report the incident to the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and the NYPD’s cybercrime unit. Prompt reporting can help authorities take swift action and potentially prevent others from falling victim to the scam.

“Scammers are preying on the everyday concerns of our citizens, and this issue was luckily brought to my attention after my mother had received one of these text scams,” said Slater. “I urge everyone to remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to protect themselves from these fraudulent schemes. By staying informed and cautious, we can collectively reduce the risk of falling victim to such scams.”

Tips on How to Protect Yourself

Verify Before You Pay: Always check the official NYC parking ticket website or contact the city's parking authorities to verify any claims of unpaid tickets.

Be Cautious of Urgent Requests: Legitimate institutions typically do not request immediate payments via text messages.

Protect Your Information: Never share personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages.