Honest John News Driving

Drivers warned over fake car park QR codes

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Fri, 23 Aug 2024

Motorists are being warned to watch out for fake QR code stickers on car park payment machines across the UK after drivers have been caught out unknowingly sending payments to fraudsters.

The practice is being dubbed ‘quishing’.

The scam works by fraudsters sticking the fake QR codes next to official ‘pay by phone’ stickers.

They appear to offer motorists a quick and easy alternative to using a fiddly parking app. Scanning the QR code with a smartphone brings up a payment portal, into which drivers enter banking information.

However, not only is this a fraudulent website that won’t record a parking payment, it also provides banking information to criminals who can then steal money from their bank accounts.

Ironically, motorists could also be fined by the council for not paying for their parking.

There has been a big spike in ‘quishing’ over the last month, with fraudsters hitting car parks in Barking and Dagenham, Northumberland, Northamptonshire, South Tyneside and Pembrokeshire.

All the car parks targeted use the PayByPhone app. Another car park targeted in Lytham St Annes uses the MI Permit app.

How to appeal a parking ticket

The RAC blames the increasing popularity and ease of using QR codes, making drivers more vulnerable to malicious scammers. It's warning motorists to only pay with cash, card or official apps and avoid using payment via QR codes.

"This new wave of criminal activity is case in point for why the UK is in dire need of the National Parking Platform, which will allow everyone to use one app of their choice to pay for parking," says RAC head of policy Simon Williams.

"As people are faced with a plethora of different payment apps, depending on where they are in the country, it’s no wonder many resort to the convenience of using the QR codes they’ve seen on payment machines," he adds.

The RAC says councils should offer at least two different means of paying for parking, in the event of tech failure, or the car park being located somewhere with dodgy phone signal.

How to stay safe when using a car park QR code

  • Make sure it hasn’t simply been stuck on – look for peeling corners, odd sizing or official information obscured beneath
  • Check the URL it’s sending you to is secure – and exactly matches the company you want to pay (fraudsters sometimes use similar websites that differ by one or two characters)
  • If you think you’ve used a false code, check your bank statement for suspicious transactions, and tell your bank
  • Don’t disclose information if someone calls claiming to be from your bank – call them back using a phone number from their official website
Ask HJ

I am appealing a parking ticket but have received no response, what should I do?

I recently received via the post a Notice to Keeper from parkmaven alleging I had not paid for a a parking charge in The Shires Shopping Centre, Trowbridge. I did pay the £1.00 charge and I have a photo of the machine displaying this fact. I paid using my iphone using Apple Pay and this transaction appears on the phone. I also have a charge showing on my Bank Statement for £1 payable to YourParkingSpace.co. I have made numerous attempts to submit an appeal but their system keeps displaying an error message. I have also sent emails requesting advice but to date have had no reply. What would you advise I do next please?
If you have been unable to contact the parking operator by phone or email, we would suggest sending a written appeal by recorded post as you can then evidence that you have made an appeal within the appeal window. You may also wish to consider contacting the trade body if the operator is a member of one. You can read our in-depth guide to appealing a parking ticket here: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/advice/driving-advice/parking-ticket-appeals/
Answered by David Ross
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