Overview
- New FOI figures published Thursday show reports rose from nine cases in 2022 to 133 in 2025, totalling 247 incidents and about £56,648 in reported losses.
- The scam works when criminals place a fake QR sticker over a car park sign or machine so a scan opens a copycat site that harvests card details and personal data.
- Which? released a video warning that demonstrates a counterfeit sticker being peeled off and urges people to inspect codes, preview the URL, and type the address if unsure.
- Action Fraud and the British Parking Association advise checking for HTTPS and spelling errors, avoiding card entry on suspect pages, and using official apps or the payment machine.
- Councils and operators report removing bogus stickers and issuing alerts, with recent warnings in areas including Kensington and Chelsea, Derby, Denbighshire, and Reading, while the shift to app-only parking increases exposure and may still leave victims facing fines for unpaid stays.