Police look into downtown parking scam - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Police are investigating a reported parking lot scam after an Indianapolis mother found herself stranded with her children downtown.

The scam happened right across the street from Bankers Life Fieldhouse after a recent Indiana Fever game. A man guided Anterrica Hoskins and other drivers into a parking lot and collected a $10 parking fee, only to eventually have them towed away.

"He was guiding all the cars in the parking lot. He was a white guy with gold teeth in his mouth and he had tattoos and he was taking money," Hoskins said.

The same imposter solicited money from radio DJ Liz Dixon and her family, who parked next to Hoskins.

"I actually had my car towed two years ago, so I kind of knew and told my husband, 'No, don't give him the money'," Dixon said. "He had tickets in his hand and said 'Park here, park here."

Dixon took pictures of Hoskins and her stranded family.

The $5 parking fee for the lot jumps to $10 for Fever games. IMPD Downtown District Commander Karen Arnett is aware of phony parking lot workers.

"We are working with the owners and garage attendants to try to make them more accountable for having some kind of ID on them," Arnett said.

She says any time you park downtown in parking lots, be sure to read every sign, especially the small print that indicates that every vehicle is towed at the owner's expense.

To avoid expensive tow fees, police say always locate posted parking information, get a receipt and put it on your dashboard to avoid towing. If you're uncomfortable about an attendant, safely take a photo and call 911.

Hoskins says her family learned a valuable lesson to not take chances on parking fees.

"We know now to put our money in the box," she said.

Metro police will be on the lookout for people impersonating parking attendants, but they need the public to be their eyes and ears, too.