Fake QR Codes Stuck Over Parking Meters Can Lead to Sites That Steal Your Money and Login Info
Parking QR codes seem convenient, but scammers have taken to covering real QR codes on parking meters with their own. If you scan the fake code, it can take you to a website designed to steal your money, your personal information, or both.
The protection is simple: before you scan, look at where the code will send you. Many QR readers show you the link before you click, so check it for spelling mistakes or switched letters. And if you think you scanned a bad code, do not interact with the site, change any password you entered, and review your credit card and bank statements for transactions you did not make.
What to look for
- A QR code on a parking meter (or similar public spot) that looks freshly placed or layered over another code
- A link from the code with spelling mistakes or switched letters
- A payment page that asks for more information than a parking fee should
- Unexpected charges on your card or bank account after scanning
What to do
Preview the link before scanning, skip the scan if it looks off, and if you did enter credentials, change those passwords and review your statements — then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.