Scam alert: NY CityPay text messages are fake

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – If you received a CityPay text message recently, don’t click the link – it’s a scam.

Officials are warning that a widely distributed text message claiming to be from “New York CityPay” is fake. The text warns of a fake unpaid parking invoice of $2.50, that will become a $25 charge if not paid. The text includes a link that should not be opened, officials said.

“If you receive a text message claiming to be from “CityPay”, please delete it. We will never send you an unsolicited text message reminding you to make a payment. Do not click any links sent to you in a text claiming to be from CityPay, as this is a scam,” reads a message on CityPay’s actual website, which has a .gov URL.

City officials said the scam made it far, with people upstate reporting getting the scam.

“Many of us say it could never happen to me. You’d be surprised how we are looped into these various requests for our personal information. Just be real conscious of that and we’re going to do our job,” Mayor Eric Adams said.

New Yorkers can check their actual CityPay balance using the city’s website .

New Yorkers have recently posted warnings on social media of other common scams . Two women in May said they were approached by groups looking for donations, then transferred large amounts of money from the women’s phones.

An FTC spokesperson said “no comment” when PIX11 asked if the agency is involved in an investigation into the scam

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here .

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