Parking scams involving phony QR codes have increased fourteen-fold in the past three years, new data shows.
Drivers have lost £56,000 since 2022 in a scam that sees criminals stick fake QR codes over legitimate parking payment signs, with many car parks now insisting on payment via app rather than cash.
Unsuspecting motorists scan these codes to pay for parking but are instead redirected to fraudulent websites designed to steal payment details.
In 2022, only nine cases of the scam were reported with a total loss of £322. But last year that number had shot up to 133 reports, with victims losing £29,682.
The data, found through a Freedom of Information request submitted by Ailsa Reliability Solutions, represents a 1,300 per cent increase in reports.
The true figure is likely to be much higher as most scams are not directly reported, especially for small amounts.
Motorists have been warned they could be hit with a ‘double whammy’ of charges from using a fake QR code: once from the scam and again through a fine for not paying for a genuine parking ticket.
QR, or ‘Quick Response’, codes are small, jumbled boxes of black and white squares, which operate much like a barcode.
Pictured: Fake QR codes at a car park in Denbighshire in north east Wales
You point the camera on your smartphone at a QR code and it directs you to a website automatically without you having to tap the details into your browser.
But there have been reports across the country of fraudsters sticking fake QR codes over a genuine one to snare unsuspecting victims.
It is hard to discern a fake QR code from a real one, which is a reason why people are vulnerable.
Last year, councils across Britain issued warnings about fake QR codes stuck on to legitimate parking metres.
In Derby, Councillor Alan Graves spotted QR codes at the privately owned Crompton Street car park that took him to a fake website asking for money.
In London’s Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Cem Kemahli said: ‘This is an urgent warning to protect drivers in Kensington and Chelsea.
‘If you use a QR code to pay for parking in Kensington and Chelsea, I guarantee that you are paying scammers instead of the Council.
‘Our officers are removing these fake signs as quickly as we spot them but we want to make sure visitors and residents don’t fall foul of this cruel hoax which has been blighting other areas of London too.’
Scam QR codes stuck on display machines and tariff boards across Lytham St Annes in Lancashire
In 2023, one woman lost £13,000 in Thornaby Station car park after scanning a fake QR code.
The scammers managed to obtain enough information to run up debts in her name.
And in Denbighshire in north east Wales, locals were also warned of bogus QR codes in car parks.
Tina Sheppard from Derbyshire also fell prey to the scam in Leicester, which resulted in £80 being taken from her bank account
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Ms Sheppard told the Derby Telegraph: ‘The code looked totally genuine. I was off to a business event, and, to be honest, my biggest concern was that it was dark and I wanted to get to the hotel where I was dropping my bags off safely
‘I tried to download the parking app on the car park board and it redirected me to a website instead.
‘It looked totally genuine and after putting my card details into the site it crashed.
‘I actually called my husband to help me remotely and he successfully managed to help me from home.
‘The bank then contacted me to ask if I had genuinely purchased from the site, and thinking there was no issue, I said “yes”.’
Ms Sheppard’s bank was able to retrieve her stolen money.
The new data shows that this scam is becoming more prevalent with increasing numbers of drivers being caught out.
Jamie Burns, from Ailsa, a business that helps large businesses with efficiency, sustainability and repairs, said: ‘Drivers are now so used to scanning QR codes for convenience, whether it’s paying for parking, ordering food or accessing information.
‘Criminals are exploiting that trust by placing fake codes in high-traffic areas where people are less likely to question them.’
In 2023, one woman lost £13,000 in Thornaby Station car park after scanning a fake QR code
How can you avoid falling victim to QR code parking scams?
Check before you scan
Fraudsters often just stick a fake QR code over the top of a genuine one, so they may appear unusual if you inspect it.
Stephen Burke, product director at the cyber security company Titan HQ previously said: ‘Always take a close look at any QR code to see if there are signs it has been plastered over a genuine one, perhaps on different paper or peeling off.’
Most parking companies and councils also use apps like PayByPhone or Ringo – where you can type in a location code rather than scan a QR code.
Verify the website
Action Fraud said drivers should be wary if a QR code takes them to a site that asks for personal information.
Look out for signs a code may be fake such as bad graphics or misspellings.
Only click on websites that have an ‘https’ as the beginning of the address as this means it is more likely to be safe from hacking.
If in doubt, shut the webpage accessed by the QR code and look up the website directly by typing the correct web address into your browser.
Use trusted payment methods
You should try and avoid entering your card details into a website unless you are sure it is real – use the payment machine or an official app instead where possible.
Be sure to regularly monitor your bank statements for suspicious transactions.
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