A new elaborate parking scam is already costing some victims big money.
This scam is focused on almost anyone who drives, especially those who may park in a public lot or valet their vehicle.
These high-tech thieves send you messages making you believe you’ve damaged their car while in a parking lot -- however, in most cases, they’re just looking for money or your personal information.
A text message can make you believe your car was involved in a crash -- but it’s a scam. The scammer wants you to think you struck a car in a public lot. In some cases your number is picked randomly but in others it may be linked to a certain lot or valet service.
In one case, the following text was sent: “You damaged my car. I need your name, insurance, and information.”
Local 4′s Hank Winchester called a number associated with these messages, and here is what he was told:
- Hank: I’m calling regarding the accident. Where did it happen?
- Man: Near the river, near Gucci, not far from LCA.
- Hank: This seems very suspicious.
What should you do if you get a call like this one? If you don’t recall being in an accident, just hang up or don’t respond to the text. They may be fishing for personal information.
