Drivers are being warned of a major parking scam designed to snare locals and tourists at two popular seafronts in North Wales. Police are investigating after council parking staff discovered fake QR codes being used on meters at Llandudno and Colwyn Bay at the weekend. The fake codes are designed to trick users into providing their payment details on bogus websites.
QR codes are not used by the official PayByPhone app which motorists can use to pay for parking in the county. READ MORE: Life in the waterside Greater Manchester village with beautiful walks, cosy brunch spots and buzzing bars Conwy Council warned the scam also puts motorists at risk of parking fines as they haven't paid for parking in the right way. The fake codes were found on parking meters at Colwyn Bay Promenade and on The Parade, Llandudno, NorthWalesLive reports.
The sham QR codes lead to a phoney website claiming to be PayByPhone. Conwy Council said scammers use these sites to steal payment information, often leading to more fraudulent payments. One of the fake QR codes attached to a parking meter (Image: Conwy Council) Anyone who has fallen victim to this kind of scam is advised to contact their bank to stop further funds being taken, the council advised.
A spokesperson for the local authority said: "Civil enforcement officers working for the council will continue to monitor parking machines across the county and remove any unauthorised notices. "The council has reported the issue to North Wales Police .