Motorists could lose hundreds of pounds due to a fresh scam affecting car parks across the UK, according to experts. John Wilmot, CEO of car leasing comparison site LeaseLoco has warned that fraudsters were sticking fake QR codes on parking machines, leaving road users at risk.
Drivers scan the codes to pay for their parking, completely unaware they are being taken to a fake website link. Motorists then share sensitive personal data with scammers, such as their card details, with road users at risk of “losing hundreds of pounds”.
To top it off, some road users have then been slapped with a penalty for not paying for their parking as they funnel money into fake scam sites instead.
John said: “While this scam isn’t unheard of before, it is one of the newer ones that seems to be catching people out. Scammers are placing fake QR codes near parking machines so that drivers share their card details while they think they’re making a legitimate payment.
“This scam brings extra frustration because not only are people realising money is going missing from their account, but a few weeks later they’re also getting hit with a legitimate fine for not actually paying for their parking.
“The more people are aware of these scams, the better equipped they will be to spot them and save themselves from being victims of it.”
According to LeaseLoco, QR codes have “opened up a new territory for scammers” with the issue growing in demand.
Action Fraud has reportedly received over a thousand reports of people being targeted by the scams, with local councils across the country reporting issues.
Rhydian Jones, Confused.com’s car insurance expert, stressed that road users could try and avoid the scams by adopting some simple precautions.
Rhydian explained: "If you’re using a parking machine, be cautious of QR codes, especially if they look like they’ve been stuck over the original display. Where possible, use the official app you already have on your phone or download it directly from your app store. If that’s not an option, paying with cash or card is safer.
"If you do have to scan a QR code, check the website address carefully, it should start with https, and watch out for spelling mistakes or anything that doesn’t look quite right. If you’re unsure, call the car park operator to check.”
