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QR code parking scam drains bank accounts in UK amid sharp rise
Report Fraud says QR code scam reports surged to 2,743 in the 12 months to August 2022, up from 341 in the prior year.
A UK parking QR code scam is taking money in repeated £60 charges after victims download fraudulent apps, highlighting how criminals are increasingly using QR codes, often in everyday locations like car parks and railway stations, BBC Business reports.
The outlet describes the case of a 61-year-old man, Les Howard, who noticed small activity first, then a larger £60 debit from the same recipient after using a QR code at a car park while traveling in North Wales.
According to BBC Business, Report Fraud data shows the number of QR code-related scam reports has risen by 700% over four years, reaching 2,743 reports in the past 12 months, the year ending in August 2022.
The report also cites Cyngor Gwynedd saying it does not use QR codes for parking payments and that it removed two fake QR code stickers from car parks in the past year, while a National Cyber Security Centre official warned that criminals are finding more ways to exploit the codes.