Overview
- Criminals are placing counterfeit QR stickers over genuine parking codes that redirect motorists to lookalike sites to steal money and data.
- The RAC advises paying with cash, a card or official apps such as RingGo or PayByPhone instead of scanning on‑meter codes.
- Most councils do not use QR code payment systems for parking, so QR stickers on meters are a warning sign.
- Victims can be hit twice by paying scammers and then receiving fines because no legitimate payment was recorded.
- Warnings also cover EV charge points and private car parks, with guidance to preview URLs, use mobile security, and contact banks via 159 and Action Fraud if scammed.