Fake handwritten parking fines attempt to sting Bayside drivers

It was mocked as a “ridiculous” hoax that could not have been real, and it turns out it wasn’t. A “highly embarrassed” 68-year-old man has handed himself in to police over the parking fine “scam” targeting Bayside drivers.

A man has ‘fessed up to playing a prank on his mate by putting a fake parking ticket on his car. Generic picture: istock

UPDATE: A “highly embarrassed” 68-year-old man has handed himself in to police over the fake parking ticket “scam” in Brighton.

Bayside Council this afternoon said police had advised the man had confessed to a prank on his mate.

Two men were apparently playing tennis at St Andrews Tennis Club last Friday when one decided to play a trick by leaving a fake handwritten parking ticket on his mate’s car, the council said.

A “concerned citizen” saw the ticket on the windscreen, removed it and called the council.

The council initially believed several tickets had been found and reported the matter to police, but on further investigation it was discovered there was only one.

It was thought someone posing as a council parking officer was duping drivers by trying to pass off handwritten fines as the real deal.

One ticket, issued at 11.20am on May 1 on St Andrews St, stated “I have run out of paper in my machine. You parked here at 8.45. Two hours and 35 minutes later, your (sic) are still parked in a two-hour zone. Fine $81”.

Looks legit...?

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It then provided bank details and said, “have a better day from now”.

Resident Felicity Frederico said the hoax was “absolutely ridiculous”.

“As if anyone would ever fall for this?” she said.

“It’s an insult to our intelligence and gullibility.

“They need to stop it and come up with a better idea.”

The council’s city planning and amenity director Hamish Reid said the council did not issue handwritten fines and warned residents to be cautious, and report it if they were stung.

Bayside Council manager statutory planning Matthew Cripps said the council was relieved the matter was resolved and that no one was intentionally trying to scam Bayside residents.

Police have advised that no charges will be laid.