‘It's scary’ — Irish drivers warned of sinister scam when paying for parking

Irish drivers are being warned to watch out for a new and sinister scam when paying for parking around the country.

A woman in Wicklow has reportedly been scammed out of €1,000 after trying to pay for parking online using a QR code on an official Payzone parking poster.

The woman's daughter scanned the QR code which is provided on meters and posters at a nearby parking spot to make payment easier for those who don't have change for the machine.

The unsuspecting motorists, however, was redirected to a scam website and it was later discovered the real QR code had been covered with a scam sticker to catch people out. 

An X user shared the details of the crafty scheme over the weekend.

Be careful everyone, this happened in greystones. The lady's daughter was scammed out of €1000, using a QR code that she scanned to pay for parking. pic.twitter.com/oGlb4Zk2Xl

— lozzyloz (@lozzylozboz) October 13, 2024

Other motorists were shocked by the incident with one saying there are "new scams everyday, it seems, thank you for sharing."

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Another added: "Damn, I’ve never even thought of that happening before. Now I’ll be sure to double check."

A third added: "Jesus, it's scary how easily it can be done. It makes you realise how much we need to keep cash alive."

Payzone has issued a warning over potential scams like this on its website.

"At Payzone, your security is our top priority. As we continue to offer cashless payment solutions, we want to ensure that you're equipped with the knowledge to stay safe while using our services. Whether you're paying for services through our mobile app or scanning a QR code on a parking meter, here are some tips to help you avoid online threats like phishing and fake websites," they say.

In their official advice, they say: "When downloading the Payzone app, make sure it's the legitimate version by checking the following:

"Official app stores: Only download the Payzone app from trusted app stores - Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Avoid third-party websites or app stores.

"Developer name: The app should always list Payzone as the developer. Be cautious of any apps with similar names or those from different developers."

In terms of verifying you are then on their website, they say: "If you’re paying for parking online via the website, it's important to ensure you're on the official Payzone site.

"Check the URL: The website address should always be payzoneparking.ie or payzone.ie. Be cautious of any website that looks similar but has extra characters, numbers, a sub domain (e.g. payzone.payhere.com) or a different domain (e.g., .com, .net)
Secure connection: Look for the padlock symbol in your browser's address bar. This indicates that the site is secure and that you are on the correct Payzone website."

Specifically on QR codes, they say: "When scanning a QR code from our signage on the parking meters, follow these steps to ensure you're directed to the right place:

"Check for tampered QR codes: Be mindful if a QR code looks like it’s been placed over our original sticker. Scammers can sometimes stick fake codes over the real ones to direct you to fraudulent sites. If something looks unusual, report it immediately and avoid scanning the code.

Warning: QR code scam on Pay & Display Machines
Fingal County Council is warning motorists to be vigilant of a QR scam that has taken place on Pay and Display machines. The Council is aware that a bogus QR sticker is being placed on some machines, bringing the user to a… pic.twitter.com/xvmZSwY9yF

— Fingal County Council (@Fingalcoco) October 14, 2024

"Direct to Payzone.ie: After scanning, the link should always take you to payzone.ie — nothing else. If it directs you to a different site, do not proceed.

"Double-check the link: If you’re ever unsure, you can manually enter payzoneparking.ie or payzone.ie into your browser to access our website."