Scammers using QR codes to target people paying for parking: B.C. RCMP

QR code on a cellphone. (Source: Pexels)

The Penticton RCMP issued a warning about the scam Wednesday, saying stickers with QR codes are showing up on parking meters and pay stations.

“When scanned, these codes direct users to fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate parking payment systems. Victims unknowingly enter their personal and financial information, which can then be stolen and used for fraudulent transactions,” Mounties said in a statement.

Authorities want the public to be aware that the city doesn’t use QR codes in this way and has an app through which people can pay for municipal parking.

“If you encounter a QR code claiming to link to a parking payment page, do not scan it and report it immediately,” Mounties said in the statement.

The same scam prompted warnings from the City of Ottawa in August of 2024 and from Montreal’s parking agency in June of 2025.