A recent scam involving fraudulent QR codes on parking machines has led to significant financial losses for unsuspecting individuals. Scammers have placed counterfeit QR code stickers on pay-and-display machines and tariff boards throughout the town, tricking people into revealing their banking information.
Fylde Council has been removing the bogus stickers, but new ones continue to appear, particularly at locations like Dicconson Terrace car park, St Paul’s Avenue, and Stanner Bank. Despite efforts to clear them, the fraudulent codes are being quickly replaced by scammers.
The council advises anyone who has scanned these QR codes to contact Lancashire Police and their bank immediately. Several victims have come forward, reporting that significant amounts of money have been stolen from their accounts after using the fake QR codes.
Victims Share Their Experiences
One woman shared her experience on Facebook, explaining how she lost £1,500 after using a fake QR code at St Anne’s Beach car park. She described how the scam unfolded: “I paid for parking, or so I thought, at the St Anne’s Beach car park using this QR code as I had no cash. Then £1,500 has gone out of my bank! Just five minutes after I ‘paid,’ someone tried adding my card to their Google Pay.”
She added that the scammers used her card to purchase car parts in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Authorities, including the police and Action Fraud, have been informed, and she is hopeful of recovering her money.
Another individual reported a similar incident where a £44 payment attempt was blocked by their bank. They noted that the fraudulent transaction appeared under the name BITSA, a virtual prepaid VISA card. Yet another victim received an alert from their bank about a £104 transaction attempt at Sainsbury’s, which was also blocked.
Council Response
Fylde Council has responded by investigating the matter and removing the fake QR code stickers. However, they continue to reappear. A spokesperson for the council commented, “We’ve investigated and found stickers with a large QR code have been placed on some of our car park pay and display machines and tariff boards. Since removing these fake QR codes, more have been placed including Dicconson Terrace car park, St Paul’s Avenue, and Stanner Bank.”
The council is actively working to resolve the issue and urges the public not to scan any QR codes from parking machines. They are also collaborating with local law enforcement to identify and apprehend those responsible for the scam.
Preventative Measures
To prevent falling victim to such scams, authorities recommend:
Paying for parking using coins or official apps provided by parking authorities.
Double-checking the source of QR codes before scanning, especially on parking machines.
Monitoring bank accounts for unauthorized transactions if any suspicious QR codes have been used.
This scam highlights the increasing sophistication of fraudulent schemes and the importance of vigilance when making electronic payments.
