Fake parking meter QR codes: how to spot them and what to do
The FTC warns of fake QR stickers on parking meters. Cases in the US, UK and Brazil, signs of tampering and what to do if you already scanned one.
Scammers are covering legitimate parking meter QR codes with their own stickers. Scan one and you land on a look-alike payment site that steals your card, personal data or both. It's called quishing.
What did the FTC warn about?
On September 3, 2026 the FTC published “See a QR code parked somewhere? Don't scan it…yet!”, warning that fake codes on parking meters lead to sites designed to steal money or personal information.
Where has it happened?
| Place | What happened |
|---|---|
| Austin and San Antonio, TX (2021–22) | Fake stickers on 29 Austin meters; 100+ San Antonio meters taken out of service (WeLiveSecurity) |
| United Kingdom (2024–25) | Councils such as Aberdeen and Southend said they don't use QR codes on machines; Action Fraud recorded £3.5m lost to QR scams in 2024 (Which?) |
| Belém, Brazil (Aug 2025) | Fake QR codes on rental scooters diverted payments (Diário do Pará) |
A recurring detail: the official operator often didn't accept QR payments at all.
How to spot a fake
- A sticker on top of another sticker, peeling edges, mismatched design.
- A strange URL in the camera preview: typos, generic domains, link shorteners.
- Requests for more data than parking requires, or urgent “pay now or be fined” messages.
What to do
- Use the official app or type the URL yourself; scan with your phone's built-in camera.
- Keep your phone updated and use multi-factor authentication (FTC advice).
- If you scanned a bad code: stop engaging, call your card issuer, change any reused passwords, review statements and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Tell the city or operator so the sticker is removed.
Read next
Source
- FTC — See a QR code parked somewhere? Don't scan it…yet! (Sep 3, 2026)
- WDAM — feds warn of parking QR scams
- Which? — Quishing scams warning
- WeLiveSecurity — QR codes falsos em parquímetros (Texas)
- Diário do Pará — QR codes falsos em patinetes em Belém