Les Used a QR Code to Download a Parking App—But It Was a Scam
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Les used a QR code to download what he thought was a parking app during a trip to the coast, but it turned out to be a scam.
Les Howard became suspicious when he could not find change for parking and decided to use the quick response (QR) code on the meter instead. The next day, he realized he had become a victim of a scam as money started disappearing from his bank account in £60 chunks.
QR Code Scams on the Rise
- Reports of QR code-related scams have increased by 700% in the past four years, according to figures from Report Fraud.
- Experts attribute this rise to criminals exploiting QR codes as they become more integrated into everyday life.
- Scams involve disguising suspicious links in emails, gaining access to messaging apps, or tricking people into downloading fraudulent apps to steal money and data.
Howard’s Experience
"I normally have change in the car for parking, but this time I didn’t," Howard recalled. "So there was a QR code to download and get an app and pay via an app."
Despite other people in the car park using the same process, Howard decided to delete the app after becoming suspicious. However, he received notifications that £1 and then £60 had been taken from his account. He contacted his bank, who informed him of a monthly subscription set up without his consent.
Official Responses
The council responsible for car parks in the area, Cyngor Gwynedd, stated they do not use QR codes for parking payments and have removed fake QR code stickers from their car parks in the past year.
Data from the City of London Police indicates a growing problem with QR code-related scams, known as "quishing."
Ollie Whitehouse, Chief Technology Officer at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), confirmed an increase in the use of QR codes for criminal activity and warned that criminals will continue to exploit their popularity.
Listen to the full episode of BBC Scam Secrets: QR Code Scams
