Parking QR-Code Scams Prompt Warnings Across Cities

Police and local authorities in Boston, Ann Arbor, Manhattan and Perth have warned that scammers are placing fake QR-code stickers on parking meters or sending fraudulent payment notices to steal motorists’ personal and financial information. The schemes direct drivers to convincing but unofficial websites, sometimes using threats of late fees or legal consequences to pressure payment. In Manhattan, a Brooklyn man has been indicted after investigators found 64 stickers allegedly directing drivers to a fake version of the city’s ParkNYC platform; the case remains under investigation. Officials advise motorists not to scan unsolicited or suspicious codes, to verify payment instructions through official city channels or apps, and to report suspected scams. Guidance on spotting altered stickers and checking a website before paying also underscores the broader risks of QR-code phishing.