Canterbury City Council issues scam warning after QR codes get stuck in parking machines

A second council has issued a scam warning after QR codes got stuck in parking machines.

Canterbury City Council has removed stickers from its car parks, which direct users to “a fairly professional website” when scanned.

But the authority says it is not legitimate and is most likely a scam.

It comes after Dover District Council issued a similar warning yesterday.

“QR codes have been stuck on some of our parking machines today, like this one pictured on North Lane,” a council spokesperson said.

“Payment for parking via QR code is not something we offer in any of our car parks or on-street parking.

“Please do not scan any QR code you see on a parking machine.

“We have reviewed these stickers and they go to what appears to be a fairly professional website, but it is not legitimate and is most likely a scam where you will lose your money.

“Machines across the district are being reviewed and QR codes will be removed.

“If you pay for parking with your mobile phone, call the number on the machine or download the Ringo app from your Apple or Android device.”

It comes after a report yesterday that scammers have placed fake QR codes on pay and display machines in the hope that unsuspecting drivers will scan them.

Dover Council is warning people to be vigilant after codes were spotted in several car parks across the borough.

The authority says it is working to remove them as “a matter of urgency” but has issued the warning in a bid to raise awareness.