A driver in Chesterfield reported being stung by scammers after his bank warned him the payment he’d made using a QR code stuck onto a pay and display machine was suspicious.
An immediate investigation discovered several pay and display machines in Chesterfield had a rogue QR code sticker on them which have now been removed.
We don’t use QR codes for payments for on-street parking, so if there are QR codes on the machines, they’re not legitimate. We continually check our machines across the county for fake QR codes.
Our cabinet member for health and communities Councillor Carol Hart said:
“I’d urge everyone to be aware that scammers are operating in Derbyshire, putting stickers with QR codes on pay and display machines.
“These are dishonest, underhand people who are looking to rip off residents and leave them out of pocket.
“All of our machines accept cash and a cashless alternative, either by using the Pay By Phone parking app, or calling the telephone number listed on the machine. If you see a sticker with a QR code on it on one of our machines, don’t click on it – it’s a scam.”
Anyone who thinks they may have used a scam QR code to pay for their on-street parking in Derbyshire, or sees a QR code on a machine, is asked to email parking@derbyshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01629 538671.
Councillor Hart added:
“Unscrupulous people are always trying to find ways to con people out of their hard-earned money and we must do what we can to fight back.
“The county council doesn’t accept payment for parking using QR codes and I urge people against scanning a code on any of our machines.”
For more help and advice on scams contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline, telephone: 0808 223 1133.