Car park warning issued as people have money stolen from bank accounts

Drivers have been warned that QR codes might seem like a convenient way to pay for parking in a hurry, but they could be at risk of getting fined and scammed. People are being urged, where possible, to consider using cash instead.

People have been reporting 'nasty' scams that take advantage of drivers who are trying to do the right thing. It has been discovered that drivers fell victim to 1,386 incidents of QR code scams, according to Action Fraud.

It might seem like a modest figure for the whole of the UK, but it is more than double the previous year. In the first three months of 2025 alone, there were 502 reports, proving that the issue is escalating - and could get out of control quickly.

READ MORE: DWP sends urgent warning to Universal Credit claimants who have money in savings

READ MORE: Shoppers save £30 on ‘gorgeous’ Jimmy Choo perfume that gets 'many compliments'

Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, said that getting a complete picture of the fraud's extent will be challenging for authorities, reports Birmingham Live. He said: "Unless drivers receive a parking ticket, a lot of people are unaware that their personal or card details were compromised in this way.

"When it comes to reporting the eventual scam, often the fact that it originated through quishing goes undocumented." Quishing, also known as QR code phishing, is a type of cyberattack where attackers use QR codes to trick people into visiting malicious websites or downloading harmful content.

These fake QR codes are often disguised as legitimate ones, leading victims to phishing websites that steal sensitive information from devices. The RAC advised motorists to remain "very vigilant" and settle parking fees with cash, card or through official apps, rather than using QR codes that redirect to websites.

Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, said: "Unfortunately, the increasing popularity and ease of using QR codes appears to have made drivers more vulnerable to malicious scammers. For some, this sadly means a Quick Response code could in fact be a 'quick route' to losing money.

"As if this quishing scam isn't nasty enough, it can also lead to drivers being caught out twice if they don't realise they haven't paid for parking and end up getting a hefty fine from the council." Mr Williams added that cash would prevent scammers touching any of your details - but, along with physical payment machines, the option to use coins or notes to pay your fee is "being phased out by lots of councils".

According to Disabled Motoring UK, while some councils have converted some or all their car parks to cashless sites, more local authorities are looking into the option to save on administrative costs. The site added: "While there has been a shift in cashless provision, the previous government wrote to councils asking them to ensure that parking remained accessible to all, and that cash acceptance remained in place."

Motorists should approach QR codes on parking payment machines or signposts in car parks with caution and check that they are not stuck over a legitimate code.