Public warned not to fall for unpaid parking fees scam
21 July 2026
The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate wants to alert the public to a scam calling on road users to click on a link to pay so-called ‘unpaid parking fees’. The scammers send this message via SMS, but may also use other platforms. Motorists are warned not to fall for the scam, or click on any links requesting a payment.
The City would like to remind residents and visitors that the only way to pay for the use of an on-street parking bay is directly to the parking marshal at the time of parking.
The public is advised of the following:
Any person receiving an SMS, email, or WhatsApp message about ‘unpaid parking fees’ should ignore the message and not click on any links
One of the common messages used by scammers reads: ‘Action required: Your parking fee remains unpaid. Please settle the balance immediately...’. This message is fraudulent
Road users should not confuse these fraudulent messages with legitimate notifications about outstanding traffic fines. The City sends reminders to motorists who have outstanding traffic fines registered in their names. These legitimate notifications contain a link where road users can view their outstanding fines at
www.cityofctviewfines.co.za.
If you have concerns about an outstanding parking fee, do not respond to the message or click on any links. Contact the City's Transport Information Centre (TIC) for assistance on 0800 65 64 63 or
transport.info@capetown.gov.za.
The City charges parking fees for the use of on-street parking bays in designated areas across Cape Town, particularly in central business districts and locations where demand for parking is high. This is intended to promote the turnover of parking bays and prevent any one motorist from occupying a parking space for extended periods, thereby ensuring fair access to parking for all road users.Parking fees must be paid upfront to the parking marshal
The City does not send emails or WhatsApp and SMS messages requesting payment for parking fees
Should a motorist believe that they have an outstanding parking fee, they should contact the TIC for assistance in settling these.
‘Residents and visitors should remain vigilant and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages claiming that parking fees are outstanding. If in doubt, contact the City directly through the Transport Information Centre for verification. The City does not request payment for parking fees through SMS, email, or WhatsApp messages,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
