A driver on Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue thought he was getting an all-day parking deal for $1.07. Police say the woman who offered it was not a parking official, and the man later learned his credit card had been hit with a fraudulent $2,500 transaction.
Palm Beach police arrested Ti’Miyah De’Asia Allen of West Palm Beach after investigators said she falsely represented herself as a parking official or ParkMobile-related employee on Worth Avenue, according to CBS12. The case centers on two reported encounters in the 100 and 200 blocks of Worth Avenue, one of Palm Beach’s best-known shopping districts.
Police said Allen wore dark clothing and displayed what appeared to be an identification badge or other official-looking sign of authority while approaching motorists.
Investigators said one driver handed over a credit card after being offered an unauthorized all-day rate, and another driver walked away after questioning the credentials.
The $1.07 Parking Offer Came With A Handheld Device
The first reported incident happened June 5 in the 100 block of Worth Avenue. According to the probable-cause affidavit cited by CBS12, a man was trying to pay for parking through the ParkMobile app when Allen approached his vehicle and asked whether he had paid.
Police said she offered an unauthorized all-day parking rate of $1.07. The man believed she was connected to ParkMobile or the town, handed over his credit card, and Allen allegedly inserted the card into a black handheld device.
Later that day, police said the man learned from Citibank that a fraudulent $2,500 transaction had been detected on the card.
A Second Driver Questioned The Badge
A second encounter was reported June 8 in the 200 block of Worth Avenue. Police said a woman had already paid for parking through ParkMobile when Allen approached her and identified herself as a representative of the “Palm Beach Parking Authority.”
Allen allegedly offered future parking permission for $1 and briefly flashed an identification card when the woman asked for credentials. The woman did not complete a transaction.
Investigators said surveillance footage, license-plate reader records, and witness identifications helped connect Allen to the incidents. Police also said ParkMobile confirmed Allen was not an employee of the company.
The Charges Remain Allegations
Allen was accused of falsely personating an officer, organized scheme to defraud involving less than $300, and unlawful use of a badge or other indicia of authority, according to CBS12. The allegations have not been proven in court.
The case shows how a low-dollar parking offer can create a much larger financial risk when a stranger handles a driver’s credit card directly. A real parking transaction should happen through the posted meter, official kiosk, or authorized payment platform listed on town signage, not through a person approaching vehicles with a handheld payment device.
Palm Beach Had Already Warned About ParkMobile Scams
The Town of Palm Beach previously warned residents and visitors about scams connected to ParkMobile use. In a ParkMobile scam alert, Palm Beach police said people searching online for ParkMobile had clicked on websites that appeared to be associated with the service but were actually scam sites operated by bad actors.
The department advised drivers to download the ParkMobile app directly from the Apple App Store or Google Play and to check URLs carefully before entering payment information. Palm Beach police also said ParkMobile signs in town do not have QR codes, and anyone who sees a QR code sticker on a parking sign should report it to police.
ParkMobile also warns that scammers have placed fake QR code stickers on parking meters or signs to send drivers to fake websites that collect payment information. The same basic rule applies on the street: a person offering a special parking deal, asking to handle a card, or flashing unofficial credentials should not replace the payment instructions posted by the town.
Drivers who believe they were targeted in a parking scam can contact the Palm Beach Police Department at 561-838-5454 and should monitor credit card statements for unfamiliar charges.