A text message purporting to warn residents about an overdue City of Milwaukee parking ticket is a scam and should be deleted, city officials warned Monday.
In a statement, Ald. Lamont Westmoreland said the scam appears to work by sending recipients a text message saying the ticket needs to be addressed to avoid a late fee and instructing them to click a link.
He said clicking the link could make the user’s phone vulnerable to malware or ransomware. Anyone who provided credit or debit card information should immediately contact their financial institution to ensure their accounts can be protected, he said.
The text message includes the city’s logo and seal along with a URL that includes “milwaukee.com,” according to a screenshot that accompanied his statement.
The city does not send text messages about parking tickets, according to the Department of Public Works. Tickets will only be received via registered mail or be physically placed on the vehicle.
The department urged residents not to click the link or provide personal information in response to the text messages. Anyone who may have fallen victim to the scam is asked to report it to the Milwaukee Police Department.
Questions about parking tickets should be directed to the city at 414-344-0840.
“It’s really sad that scammers are resorting to using what appears to be a legit city source to run a scam like this, but it is not surprising,” Westmoreland said in the statement.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Alison Dirr can be reached at [email protected].

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