Southampton and Winchester residents are being warned about a sophisticated scam involving fake QR codes on parking meters, as authorities report an increasing number of fraudulent attempts to steal payment information from unsuspecting drivers.
Southampton City Council revealed it discovers counterfeit QR codes on parking meters approximately every two weeks, with scammers placing fraudulent stickers that direct users to malicious payment websites. The growing trend has prompted officials to urge drivers to exercise additional caution when making parking payments.
“It is an issue that has become more prevalent,” said Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport. He emphasized that motorists should be “extra vigilant” and “make sure they are using the correct app and following the instructions on the pay meter.”
The problem extends beyond Southampton, with neighboring Winchester City Council reporting the removal of eight fake QR codes from their machines in October. Both councils are actively working to combat the issue through regular inspections and swift removal of suspicious stickers.
Richard Horton, service manager for parking and the Itchen Bridge at Southampton City Council, detailed their response strategy: “As and when the QR codes are seen, we identify the websites, we go through to PayByPhone who have a method for making sure the websites are taken down as soon as possible and we raise awareness of the issue via social media.”
Winchester City Council has implemented similar protective measures. “All the fake stickers we’ve been made aware of have been removed, and colleagues in our car parking team are regularly attending and inspecting machines to ensure any new stickers are removed at the earliest opportunity,” a council spokesperson stated.
Local authorities are encouraging residents to report any suspicious stickers or QR codes to their respective parking teams immediately. The councils recommend using only official parking payment methods and carefully verifying payment interfaces before entering any financial information.
