QR code scams

[Maik]

How scammers are now exploiting cashless parking

QR codes, or Quick Response codes, are a type of square barcode that contains information such as a web address or contact information to be scanned by a smartphone.

They became commonplace in shops, restaurants and bars during the pandemic as part of the NHS contact tracing rollout.

Cases of scammers placing their own barcodes on parking machines to trick drivers into entering their card details into a fake payment website have been reported across the country.

The rise of QR code scams has not been confined to car parks. Nationwide Building Society warned victims had been targeted in pubs, restaurants and even when collecting cinema tickets.

A Nationwide spokesman said the best deterrent was for the public to be “extra vigilant” when making a payment using a QR code.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/how-scammers-now-exploiting-cashless-parking/