NFL and NBA fans must do crucial check before parking cars on game days as ‘fake tickets’ spark warning over tows

Parking lots around stadiums can charge a premium for a place to leave your car when there’s an event happening, and scammers are all too eager to pounce on the increased demand.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sounded the alarm on parking scams back in January, warning they could leave your car “ticketed, towed, or even worse, stolen.”

The Lions and Pistons will both play this Saturday, and the Detroit Auto Show will be held within blocks of the games, bringing thousands of people to the city’s downtown.

Even so, some drivers have fallen victim to the text scams because they look like they come from the city.

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There are several ways scammers can trick unsuspecting drivers into paying for parking that isn’t legitimate, tricking them into paying fake citations, or even hiking up the price on a sign after they have entered a lot.

Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.

Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.

Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.

Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.

If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:

On Monday, the parking tickets are already up for sale through Vivid Seats at several parking lots in Detroit, the Detroit Free Press reported.

And that’s for legitimate parking.

Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.

Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.

Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.

Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.

Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.

Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.

Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm

“Plan your parking ahead and stay cautious to dodge scammers.”

“While it’s important to have fun and experience everything the Detroit Auto Show has to offer, it’s also important to be smart,” Nessel said.

Nessel advises going straight to the city’s website or calling the court to verify the ticket before clicking any links.

One viewed by the Detroit Free Press read, “This is a notice from the city of Detroit. Your vehicle has an unpaid parking invoice of $4.35. To avoid a late fee of 35$ please settle your balance promptly.”

Fan fever is at an all-time high ahead of the NFL Divisional Round playoff game against the Washington Commanders, but scammers may be already setting up.

And crucially, the city of Detroit’s Municipal Parking Department doesn’t text about parking fees.

“Never give their keys to the attendant unless there are posted valet signs and they’ve confirmed ahead of time with the location that the valet service is one they offer,” Nessel said.

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