Scammers put fake QR codes on Lancashire parking machines to hack bank accounts

Ashley Pemberton & Jon Macpherson

27 June 2024 at 6:05 am·2-min read

Scammers have used fake QR codes on parking machines to fleece people's bank accounts - with one woman saying she had £1,500 taken.

The bogus stickers have been placed on pay and display machines and tariff boards across Lytham St Annes. Fylde Council said it had removed the fake stickers, but more had since appeared.

The authority advised anyone who had used the QR codes to contact Lancashire Police and their bank. The fake codes have been put on display at Dicconson Terrace car park, St Paul’s Avenue and Stanner Bank.

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Some drivers who have used the codes said money had been taken from their accounts. One woman wrote on Facebook that she'd used the St Annes beach car park and was scammed to the tune of £1,500.

She said: "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!

"They said just five minutes after I ‘paid’ someone tried adding my card to their Google Pay. Hopefully I will get it back as police, Action Fraud and the company he’s ordered things from with my card have been informed.

"Apparently he’s used my card to buy car parts in Hinckley (Leicestershire). My son paid same way on same day and they tried his yesterday too."

Another victim wrote: "Me and my partner fell for this on Saturday afternoon. They then tried to take a £44 payment.

"Fortunately the bank refused the payment. All makes sense of who was trying to scam us. The name on the bank Statement was BITSA (a virtual prepaid VISA card)."

Another victim wrote: "I got done by this on Monday. I got an alert from my bank last night about it. It’s all sorted but they tried to use it at Sainsburys for £104."

A council spokesman said: "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.

"Please do not scan any, we are currently working to solve this issue."

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