Paying for parking in Vancouver? Don’t scan that QR code

A scam text message about an overdue parking ticket in Vancouver is shown.

The City of Vancouver is warning people paying for parking on its streets not to fall victim to scams.

That includes text messages claiming the recipient has an overdue parking ticket and QR codes posted on meters and signs across the city.

“The City of Vancouver does not use QR codes for parking payments,” the city said in a statement Thursday, advising people not to scan the codes if they encounter them.

“When scanned, these codes may direct users to a fake payment website that mimics legitimate services such as PayByPhone,” the statement reads.

Any suspicious QR codes should be reported through Van311, the city’s public service request platform, the city said.

It also warned that it has seen an increase in fraudulent text messages about overdue parking tickets.

“These messages are not legitimate,” the city’s statement reads.

“The city does not notify individuals of parking fines through SMS text messages or social media.”

The only official notification methods for parking violations in Vancouver are tickets placed directly on the vehicle and mailed notices sent to the vehicle’s registered owner, according to the city.

“Any message outside of these methods should be treated as suspicious,” the city said.

It advised anyone who receives a suspicious text about an overdue parking ticket to report the message to their mobile service provider, then delete it. Do not provide personal information or click on any links in the message, the city said.

“The city continues to monitor reported scams and take action where possible to reduce public risk,” the statement concludes.