Boston Police Warn of Fake Parking Violation Scam

Fraudulent notices disguised as official court documents aim to trick residents into paying fake fines.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Boston Police Department is alerting the public about a scam involving fraudulent parking violation notices that appear to be from the Boston Municipal Court. These fake documents contain official-looking details like a case number, judge's name, and state seal, but are designed to trick recipients into scanning a QR code and submitting payment for a non-existent fine.

Why it matters

This scam targets residents' trust in official government communications and could result in financial losses for unsuspecting victims. It highlights the need for the public to carefully verify the legitimacy of any notices or fines before making payments.

The details

The fraudulent parking violation notices include a case number, judge's name and signature, court address, hearing date, and Massachusetts state seal to appear authentic. However, the key indicator of the scam is a QR code that prompts recipients to pay the fake fine. Police are urging anyone who receives one of these notices to not scan the QR code or submit any payment before verifying the ticket through the city's official channels.

  • The scam was first reported to Boston police on March 8, 2026.

The players

Boston Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that issued the warning about the fraudulent parking violation scam.

Boston Municipal Court

The legitimate court system that the scammers are falsely claiming to represent in the fraudulent notices.

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What’s next

Boston police are asking anyone who has received a fraudulent notice or been victimized by this scam to report it immediately through the CrimeStoppers tip line.

The takeaway

This scam highlights the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any official-looking documents, especially those demanding payment, before taking action. Residents should always check with the appropriate government agency directly to confirm the validity of any notices they receive.