Park ATX app being impersonated by fraudulent website

Austin’s Park ATX app being impersonated by fraudulent website in Google search results

BY Kelsey Leffingwell Austin

PUBLISHED 1:49 PM CT Jan. 05, 2024 PUBLISHED 1:49 PM CST Jan. 05, 2024

AUSTIN, Texas — Beginning on Thursday, the City of Austin has received reports from at least three users who encountered a website that falsely claimed to be the official paid parking app, Park ATX. These users were required to input their credit card information but could not start a parking session.

Following an investigation, Austin Transportation and Public Works Department staff determined that a fake app, not the City of Austin's official app, is listed first in sponsored Google search results for "Park ATX" on mobile browsers.

⚠️ Fraud alert for Park ATX app ⚠️

💳 The City has received reports that a website claiming to be the City’s paid parking app requested credit card information from users but would not allow them to initiate a parking session. pic.twitter.com/AtcrXY3MhT
— ATX Transportation and Public Works (@austinmobility) January 5, 2024

Passport, the Park ATX vendor, has been made aware of the fake website and the issue has been reported to Google.

As of 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, the sponsored advertisement remained active.

The recommended method for finding the real Park ATX app is through Google Play and Apple App Stores, not a web browser. The website posing as Park ATX is am5.com.

The links to download the official Park ATX app on iOS and Android are on the City of Austin’s website.

Pictures of the fraudulent website are below: