East Hudson Valley News

Residents of the Hudson Valley have recently been targeted by deceptive text messages falsely claiming they have unpaid parking tickets requiring immediate payment. This scam, known as the NYC City-Pay Unpaid Parking Invoice text scam, aims to incite urgency and fear, leading individuals to share personal information and credit card details with cybercriminals.

Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) has issued a caution to residents, urging them to take appropriate steps to avoid falling victim to this scam. He advises those who receive suspicious messages or believe they have been targeted 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 being scammed.

“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.”

To protect oneself from such scams, Slater recommends:

- Verifying Before Paying: Always check the official NYC parking ticket website or contact city parking authorities to verify any claims of unpaid tickets.

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

- Protecting Information: Never share personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages.