Edinburgh motorists warned over potential QR code parking machine scam
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Motorists in Edinburgh are being warned to be vigilant of potential parking scams.
The warning comes after malicious scam QR codes were discovered on street parking machines across the city.
Councillor Stephen Jenkinson. transport and environment convener, said: “We’re aware of some fraudulent QR codes being placed on parking ticket machines. We will never use QR codes to ask for payment.
“Please do not scan these, and if you see any QR codes, please report them to us.”
Drivers who see a QR code on a ticket machine have been urged to take a photograph and email it with the location and ticket machine number to parking.contract@edinburgh.gov.uk. The council will then arrange for it to be removed.
The City of Edinburgh Council states on the Parking and penalty notice scams page of their website that: “We don't use QR codes for on-street parking payments, and neither does RingGo our cashless parking provider.”
Citizens Advice estimates that, across the UK, as many as 2.5 million people are affected by QR code scams.
It said: “Stickers with bogus QR codes placed over genuine codes at car parks, directing consumers to fake payment websites where their personal and financial information is stolen.”