- Palm Beach Police said it had received reports of people searching online for ParkMobile apps and unknowingly clicking on scam websites.
- These scam websites "will actively attempt to steal your information and money," police said.
A Jupiter resident intending to visit friends in Palm Beach on April 10, was the victim of a scam involving the ParkMobile website and app.
Tom Williams, a software engineer who often shops on Worth Avenue, planned to drop by the Ralph Lauren store there, but he gave up after several failed attempts to pay for parking through what he believed was the ParkMobile app.
Instead, he clicked on a fraudulent website posing as the official ParkMobile site and entered his personal information using both a credit and debit card.
He realized he had been scammed as soon as he pulled out of his parking space.
"Immediately on my phone, I got a fraud alert from Bank of America saying there was potential fraud on my debit card," he told the Daily News. "So I tried to pay for something with my debit card shortly after that, and it was denied. So I knew something was really bad."
Williams' experience, which he shared with town officials, prompted Palm Beach Police to issue a warning to residents and visitors to stay alert for scams involving the ParkMobile app.
The department in a Monday afternoon alert said it had received reports of individuals searching online for ParkMobile apps and unknowingly clicking on scam websites posing as official sites.
These sites "will actively attempt to steal your information and money," the department said.
As part of its alert, the department shared shared useful safety tips for residents and visitors. They include:
● Use the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) to search for and locate the ParkMobile App.
● If a site looks suspicious in any way, do not use it.Check the URL for the website to make sure it is the app you are trying to use. For example, if you are trying to use “ParkMobile” and the URL you see is https://park-space.xyz, that could be a fraudulent link.The ParkMobile web app URL should always start withapp.parkmobile.io. If you have concerns, close your browser and go directly into the ParkMobile app or theparkmobile.iowebsite.
● The ParkMobile website and a texting number for ParkMobile are listed on all the Town’s ParkMobile signs.
● Palm Beach ParkMobile signs doNOThave QR codes. If you see something suspicious around the meter, report it to the police. If you notice a QR code sticker on the sign, you should report it to the police so they can immediately investigate.
● Constantly monitor your credit cards and bank accounts to ensure you recognize all the charges being made. It is good practice to frequently check the charges and transactions on your credit card and bank statements. If you see something unusual, report it.
Palm Beach Police are working to stay ahead of scams by focusing on public education and awareness efforts, Palm Beach Police spokesman Capt. Will Rothrock told the Daily News.
"We are really trying to be proactive and educate the public to the possibility before we end up having community members and visitors victimized," he said.
If individuals become victims of a scam or fraud, they are asked to contact the Palm Beach Police Department at561-838-5454.
If anyone is having difficulty using the ParkMobile app, they also are urged to contact Town Police.
Officers will "make every attempt" to have a police service aide or parking enforcement officer make contact with them in person and try to help them resolve any issues, Rothrock said.
More resources can be found at Park in Palm Beach and Park Mobile ― Protect Yourself from Scammers.
Williams remains frustrated by his experience in Palm Beach, and while he acknowledged the town’s alert about scams was a step in the right direction, he expressed doubt that enough people would actually see it ahead of time.
"How many people, before they visit Palm Beach, are going to read the fraud alert?," he said.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at thePalm Beach Daily News, part of theUSA TODAY Florida Network.You can reach heratjwagner@pbdailynews.com.
