Warning after QR code scam saw woman's card spend £1,500 in Leicestershire

Ashley Pemberton, SWNS & LeicestershireLive reporter

28 June 2024 at 6:56 am·2-min read

The fake QR code — -Credit: (Image: Fylde Council© SWNS)

Scammers have been targeting unsuspecting motorists with fake QR codes on parking machines, leading to bank account thefts, including one woman who reported a loss of £1,500 in Leicestershire. The fraudulent stickers were found on pay and display machines and tariff boards in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.

Fylde Council has taken action to remove the counterfeit stickers but has warned that new ones have appeared since. Motorists who may have used the deceptive QR codes are being urged by the council to immediately contact Lancashire Police and their bank as some have lost out on thousands of pounds, reports SWNS.

In some cases, the scammers have got to Leicestershire to fradulently use people's bank accounts. Locations affected include Dicconson Terrace car park, St Paul's Avenue, and Stanner Bank, where several drivers have reported unauthorised transactions after using the codes.

An example of the scam QR code — A warning is in place about the QR codes -Credit:Fylde Council© SWNS

One victim shared her story online. 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. My son paid same way on same day and they tried his yesterday too."

A second victim said: "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)."

A spokesperson for the council 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."

The council has also issued a warning. It said: "Please do not scan any, we are currently working to solve this issue."

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