Several fake parking tickets found on vehicles in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - The Oakland Police Department (OPD) are investigating after several fake parking tickets have been found on vehicles in the city.

The fake citations carry a QR code as part of an apparent scam.

Don't scan if you don't want to be scanned as phony parking tickets have been making their rounds in Oakland, including some of the city's busiest areas on Broadway.

"Another scam. It's really sad. There's so many people just out to scam not to make an honest living, and here we go again," said one Oakland resident.

The $74 ticket claims to be from the City of Oakland. The citation of failure to display a parking receipt and the ticket even includes a QR code to pay the fine. In fact, the violation number almost matches the real city code, but is off by one digit.

The YMCA on Broadway recently started warning their members about the ticket trick after multiple people reported getting parking tickets, including one over the weekend.

"It's messed up and who knows where their private information is going if they scan that QR code and pay. I feel bad for them," said another Oakland resident.

"They got QR codes. They got everything. It looks real, but I hope we stop them all," said another Oakland resident.

The fake tickets have also been spotted around Lake Merritt, where multiple residents reported getting tickets as well. This prompted a nearby condo complex on Bellevue to alert their community.

"You don't pay the scammers, so you're being robbed. Second is then, you start doubting everything else. You know, 'If I get another ticket somewhere else, is it true?'" said another Oakland resident.

Every fake ticket an NBC affiliate in the Bay Area have found includes the same date, time, license plate, VIN number information and a fake 800 number.

In very fine red print that is likely gone unread by many, the ticket reads in part, "Failure to respond may result in additional penalties like 'nap time' (a.k.a. immobilization) and/or a strongly worded letter to the Department of Vehicular Compliance."

It goes on to say, "Don't worry, just respond and everyone, especially your car, gets to live happily ever after."

"It's all these innocent people that are being caught in these kinds of webs. So, it's like, come on," said another Oakland resident.

It's not clear if anyone has fallen for the scam, but as of now, the QR code goes to a blank web page.

OPD says they're now investigating the phony tickets in Oakland.