Drivers have been given a stern warning (when parking their cars) as reports of scams multiply.
The convenience of paying for parking via smartphone is being exploited by scammers, and Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, calls for vigilance. He said: “By national industry standards, around 73 per cent of United Kingdom adults should be targeted by scams, and 35 per cent of the rest have been victims of the crime. As scams become increasingly convincing, even the most tech-savvy among us remain at risk.
“QR code phishing scams are the latest trend we are seeing in car parks across the UK. Drivers remain aware of this type of scam and the techniques scammers are most likely to employ. ” Victims report scammers targeting parking masses by striking counterfeit QR codes compared to valid ones on signs and payment machines, Express reports.
Drivers who scan those fake codes are directed to do so, where they unknowingly hand over their main card details to criminals. Not only does this risk incurring exorbitant fees from fraudsters, but it can also lead to drivers receiving a fine (PCN) for non-payment. to the corporate car park itself.
To prevent drivers from being scammed when parking, Marc gave valuable tips for checking parking meter QR codes to make sure they are legitimate. His most sensible advice: “Before scanning a QR code at a parking meter, it is essential to check that it has not been tampered with in any way.
“Look for peeling edges, unusual dents in the material, and anything that usually looks suspicious. If the corners of the code are peeling off and you can see some other code underneath, it may mean that a fake code has been pasted in. ” from the original. ” Marc also warned drivers to be vigilant when checking the online page the QR code links to, recommending that drivers look closely for any signs of questionable grammar or wording.
He added: “When you scan a QR code, your phone allows you to preview the online page link before clicking on the site. Use your judgment to compare the URL of the online page and whether it matches the parking company’s actual online page.
Finally, he warns about the clever schemes of some scammers who create credible but fake sites, saying: “Some scammers will create a copied online page employing a domain call that looks similar but differs from the genuine one. For example, the imposter URL may simply be “https://www. justpark. net,” while the genuine online page is “https://www. justpark. com. “
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