QR code scammers strike AGAIN with fake stickers at Aberdeen parking meters

Aberdeen City Council and the police are looking into a parking scam targeting Aberdeen drivers.

By Isaac Buchan

June 25 2024, 2:01 pm

The scam stickers have been seen on parking meters all across the city. Image: Alastair Gossip/DC Thomson.

Devious scammers are conning Aberdeen drivers out of cash by sticking dozens of fake QR codes to city parking meters.

Residents have been warned to be vigilant of seemingly legit stickers plastered on machines all across the city.

The scam QR codes have been placed alongside a message asking people to pay by phone as the machine is not in use.

Dodgy QR codes have been stuck on to Aberdeen City Council/PayByPhone parking meters, like the this one on Nellfield Place. Image: Alastair Gossip/DC Thomson.

Those who scan the code are then taken to a website, identical to the council’s official payment provider, PayByPhones.

However, this is immediately followed by an alert that the site “is not secure”.

'This site is not secure' alert that pops up when a fake QR code on an Aberdeen parking meter is scanned. — Some users are met with this message when scanning the fake QR code. Image: Alastair Gossip/DC Thomson

Aberdeen city centre rife with QR code parking scam

We went out this morning and counted several of the stickers plastered over machines across the city.

Meters at Nellfield Place in the Ferryhill area, and all across the city centre, appear to have been targeted.

QR code scam sticker on a parking meter on George Street, Aberdeen. — George Street and its surroundings was one of the most hit areas by the scam artists. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson

On George Street alone, seven out of ten meters had been affected by the scam, with multiple fake QR codes stuck on them trying to trick Aberdeen drivers.

Previous warnings made about similar scam

This is not the first time scammers have been taking advantage of diligent drivers paying for their street parking.

Just a few months ago, the council warned drivers of the same scam doing the rounds.

Fake QR code on an Aberdeen parking meter. — A similar scam happened back in March with the council reminding drivers their parking meters did not use QR codes. Image: Isaac Buchan / DC Thomson.

Police are understood to be investigating in a bid to find the culprits.

A Facebook post in March said: “Please be aware of scams involving fake QR codes on pay-and-display parking meters.

“Recent scams across the country have seen fake QR codes placed on parking signage and meters that once scanned take the user to fraudulent websites that takes their details and payment.

“We don’t have QR codes on any of our machines across the city.”

Dishonest QR codes ‘disgraceful’

The use of ‘dishonest’ QR codes has been branded ‘disgraceful’ by Councillor Martin Greig.

“It is a real worry that this kind of unacceptable misbehaviour is taking place,” Mr Greig told The Press and Journal.

Mr Greig called the fake QR codes 'disgraceful'. Image: Isaac Buchan / DC Thomson — Mr Greig called the fake QR codes ‘disgraceful’. Image: Isaac Buchan / DC Thomson

The Council say they are aware of the fake QR codes, and that the matter has been reported to the police.

“Our City Wardens are inspecting machines as part of their patrols and ensuring prompt removal of any QR code identified,” A council spokesperson said.

The public can report sightings of scam QR codes to the Council or PayByphone.

PayByPhone, who operate the meters, have been contacted.