Police: Beware of parking scammers

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police are warning drivers Downtown to be on the lookout for people posing as parking attendants.

On Thursday, Nathan Jefferson, 54, was charged with theft for guiding people into free parking spaces near Stubbs and then telling them the fee was $5.

"We get four to five calls a night. On the weekends, its even heavier," said Corporal Shannon Dowell.

The calls come from people complaining that they were scammed into paying for a parking spot that should have been free.

"If it's not a place you can get towed from and its a regular parking spot, its free and no one should be able to charge you for it," said Cpl. Dowell.

But sometimes the scammers look legitimate and wear a jacket or a badge, like in Jefferson's case. Police said some even hand out fake ticket stubs. They suggest reading those tickets before throwing them on the dash.

"Read it. See if it's actually for that place- see if there's a date on it," said Cpl. Dowell.

Police also said not to trust anyone who does not have the name of a business on their clothing.

Parking is free on Downtown streets after 5:30pm and on weekends.