Parking Ticket Scam?

Question

I received a yellow postcard from the city of Oakland (CA), it says it is a notice of illegal parking, the card has the citation number on it, and the vin, and vehicle description...the vehicle is not mine, but the vin and license number are....Also I was NOT in Oakland during the ticket issue, I don't even live near Oakland. I called the number on the card, and it goes to a phone s*x line, but then I went to the Oakland parking website and it has the same phone number on it....I looked up the citation number and it IS issued as a citation, but now on the website, it shows the vehicle description as MINE....I am so confused and I think I'll probably just go to the police....Is this a scam?

Answer 1

i would go to the local police and ask them to check it out

Answer 2

Try to get another phone number for them. Ask for a 'city services' number for Oakland. It you (the car) truly weren't ever there you should be able to show where the car was when the ticket was issued.

Do you have a gas receipt for buying gas somewhere far enough from  Oakland that you couldn't have gotten there in time to park and get that ticket?

It may not be a scam, but a clerical mistake.

Or someone took your car to Oakland.

Or you're lying (but I don't think so).

Good Luck.

Answer 3

I think you should call the police department in your area to check.  Also, if you weren't in Oakland and can verify it, then you just have to say that at the hearing.  Sounds fishy to me though.