Padstow car parks warn drivers over QR code scam

You spot a QR code stuck to the tariff board, phone already in your hand, and scanning it feels like the quickest way to pay and get back to your day. In some car parks across Cornwall right now, that quick scan could hand your card details straight to a scammer instead.

How the car park QR code scam works

Padstow Town Council says it has been made aware of a scam involving QR codes attached to tariff boards or ticket machines in some car parks across the county, encouraging drivers to scan the code to pay for their parking. In some cases, scammers are also sticking fake QR codes directly over genuine ones, redirecting drivers who scan them to fake websites and fake apps instead of the real payment page.

Padstow’s car parks don’t use QR codes

Padstow Town Council has confirmed that it does not use QR codes in either of its car parks, Railway and Lawns. Payment there can be made using cash, card, or through the RingGo app.

What to do instead

The Town Council says it will never ask drivers to download the RingGo app by scanning a QR code. The app can be downloaded for free through your phone’s app store, which is the safest route if you want to use it.

If you think you’ve scanned a scam code

Anyone who thinks they may have used a scam QR code is advised to contact their banking provider as soon as possible.