Parking Meter QR Code Scam: How to Spot the Fake Sticker

This one's costing people real money. Scammers print a QR code sticker and slap it on a parking meter or pay station. You scan it, land on a page that looks like the city's parking site, type in your card — and you've just handed it to a stranger.

How to protect yourself

• Look for a sticker sitting on top of the meter's printed instructions. If it peels, it's fake.
• Prefer the official app or the number printed into the meter over a stuck-on code.
• If you do scan, check the code first so you're not typing card details into a copycat page.

ScanLikely catches these by flagging the payment page as suspicious before you enter anything.

Related QR safety guides

• Is this QR code safe to scan? How to check before you tap →
• Got a text with a QR code? How to tell if it's a scam →
• Restaurant QR menu: is it safe to scan? →
• How to scan a QR code safely →
• What is quishing? QR code phishing explained →

Not sure if a QR code is safe? Check it before you tap.

ScanLikely scans the code and warns you before it opens anything sketchy — links, fake payment pages, rogue WiFi, and more. Free on iPhone and Android.