Fake QR codes are becoming a serious concern at UK council-owned car parks, catching out unsuspecting drivers and leading to financial losses. The RAC has warned motorists to be very cautious when paying for parking.
Scammers are using fake QR codes to deceive people into sending money or providing personal information, and this is known as quishing scams. In order to trick drivers into entering their card data on phoney websites and empty their accounts, the fraudsters usually utilise fictitious QR codes connected to the PayByPhone app.
RAC reports that these incidences have increased in recent weeks in Barking and Dagenham, Northumberland, Northamptonshire, South Tyneside, and Pembrokeshire.
According to Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC:
“A car park is one of the last places where you’d expect to be caught out by online fraud. Unfortunately, the increasing popularity and ease of using QR codes appears to have made drivers more vulnerable to malicious scammers. For some, this sadly means a quick response code could in fact be a quick route to losing money.”
Williams further warned:
” As if this scam isn’t nasty enough, it can also lead to drivers being caught out twice if they don’t realise they haven’t paid for parking and end up getting a hefty fine from the council.”
The option to pay with cash is becoming increasingly uncommon as authorities convert to mobile payments. According to a RAC analysis, one in every five local authorities intends to replace parking meters with smartphones.
This policy has already been adopted by several counties, including Brighton & Hove City Council, which removed all on-street parking meters after finding that only 2% of payments were made in cash.
The nationwide switch to cashless parking has also led to an increase in scammers planting fake QR codes in parking lots.
The RAC encourages drivers to avoid using QR codes for parking fees due to the rise in these types of scams. Instead, they recommend sticking to official parking operator apps or using more conventional payment options like cash or bank cards.
TransPennine Express removed QR codes from all 14 of its station parking lots last year after receiving allegations of fake stickers concealing real payment connections. Fake QR codes have now moved outside parking lots, targeting individuals at pubs, restaurants, and movies.
The government is trying to make parking easier by launching a nationwide parking platform that would allow motorists to pay with a single app of their choosing. Several municipalities have previously tried this technology, which allows data to be sent across different payment providers. Once adopted countrywide, drivers will be able to use the same app no matter where they are in the country.
It’s important to take safety measures to keep oneself safe while using a QR code to make a payment. Before scanning, check that the QR code hasn’t been tampered with or placed over the original information. Be wary of stickers that look out of place. After scanning the code, carefully check the URL of the website before entering any personal information. Ensure it matches the official site and that the connection is secure
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