City of Vancouver issues warning about QR code parking scam
If you’re regularly parking in Vancouver, you might want to be wary about where you park.
Yesterday, the City of Vancouver issued a warning relating to a new parking scam that seems to be in play.
According to a Facebook post from the City, the scam is related to a fake QR code that leads you to a fake PayByPhone website.
The City says these fake QR code stickers are attached to various machines throughout the city.
“The City does not use QR codes for parking payments. You can pay for street parking via the PayByPhone app, a credit card (at some locations) or coins at a parking meter or pay station,” the City said in its warning.
The City doesn’t say whether or not there are specific areas where the scam is more prominent.
The post has garnered a lot of reaction from folks who follow the City of Vancouver’s Facebook page.
“Those should be equipped with cameras like arms, and if covered, an alarm goes off and notification [sent] to the City,” one Facebook user said in response.
“In the old days, you showed up, parked the car, walked to the meter and put in your nickels and dimes to pay for parking. In the modern age, you have a mobile phone with a number of apps downloaded with your vehicle information and payment information attached,” another user reflected.
Others expressed the need for more machines to accept coins.
One user said, “Some machines don’t even take cash anymore? So how are you supposed to pay when they want you to download apps, etc. How are you supposed to know what is a scam and what is legit?”
The City of Vancouver is asking anyone who sees a QR code sticker attached to a machine to report it by calling 311.
Have you encountered one of these Vancouver parking machine scams?