City of York Council is warning drivers to stay vigilant after its car parks were targeted by a fake QR code parking scam and as a wider parking ticket scam hits the country.
A widespread parking scam involving fake Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) has targeted people across the country in recent weeks. Scammers send text messages claiming recipients have received a parking ticket and urge them to click a link to pay the fine. The Council never texts PCNs to people. They are fixed to a vehicle, given to the driver or posted. PCNs that arrive in any other way should be treated with suspicion; links should not be clicked and personal or payment information shouldn’t be disclosed.
Over the summer, scammers placed fake QR codes onto signage and ticket machines at several of the Council’s city centre car parks, including Castle, Nunnery Lane, St George’s Field, Bootham Row, Monk Bar, Marygate, Union Terrace and Bishopthorpe Road.
The fake QR codes often look legitimate and sometimes display the PayByPhone logo. PayByPhone does not use QR codes for payments in car parks. The fake codes then direct users to a counterfeit website designed to resemble the real PayByPhone platform. Once on the fake site, victims are then asked to enter their card details which the scammers use to steal money from their accounts.
Reports made to Veritau, the Council’s anti-fraud team, suggest people have lost up to £400 as a result of these QR code scammers.
Councillor Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Equality and Inclusion and with portfolio for fraud at City of York Council, said:
If you receive a parking fine by text or email, or if you come across fake or suspicious-looking QR codes in our car parks, please contact Veritau.”
If you suspect fraud please report it to Veritau via 0800 9179 247 or fraud@york.gov.uk.
Find out more about using PayByPhone here.