QR Code Parking Scams Target UK Car Parks, Hospitals, Cost £3.5m

A growing scam involving fraudulent QR code stickers, known as "quishing," has been sweeping UK car parks, with scammers placing fake QR codes on parking meters to redirect users to malicious websites designed to steal personal and financial information. Nearly one in three local authorities have reported their car parks being targeted, affecting hundreds of parking machines and over 20 hospitals, with victims losing a total of £3.5 million in the past year. Authorities like Knowsley Trading Standards and Dorset Council have warned the public against scanning QR codes on parking meters, advising alternative payment methods and vigilance for signs of tampering. Investigations have linked these scams to larger, global crime networks exploiting regulatory gaps, as exposed by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism in collaboration with international media. Officials emphasize reporting suspicious QR codes and any financial losses to both Action Fraud and local councils to help combat the threat. The widespread nature of the scam highlights the embedded risk of online fraud in daily life and the need for increased policing resources to address it.