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Scam prevention guide

QR Code Scams

Stickered-over parking meters, fake menus, and SMS QR codes that open phishing sites.

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What is this scam?

QR code scams (“quishing”) trick you into scanning codes that open phishing websites or initiate malicious app actions.

Physical stickers on parking machines and restaurant tables are increasingly common.

How it works

  • A sticker QR code is placed over a legitimate payment code.
  • Scanning opens a payment page that sends money to criminals.
  • Email or poster QR codes promise discounts or prizes.
  • Some codes try to open app deep links with prefilled payment requests.

Warning signs

  • Sticker edges, peeling, or codes placed on top of another label
  • QR on unsolicited mail promising refunds
  • Payment page domain unlike the city parking or restaurant brand
  • Requests for card details for services usually paid in cash or official apps
  • No HTTPS or strange certificate warnings after scan

What to do

  • Use official parking apps or typed URLs instead of unknown stickers.
  • Report tampered public QR codes to the venue or municipality.
  • Contact your bank if you paid via a fraudulent QR page.
  • Prefer showing QR from trusted sources you opened yourself.
  • Paste decoded URLs into Fraudly when a scan looks suspicious.

Safety checklist

  • Preview the URL before opening when your scanner allows it
  • Pay parking through official city or provider apps
  • Do not scan QR codes from strangers to “receive a refund”
  • Teach children that QR codes are links—not always safe
  • Check domains with Fraudly when paying via scanned links

Check a website before you pay

Paste a shop or payment link into Fraudly's free checker—get trust signals before you share card details or log in.

Check a website before you pay

Frequently asked questions

Can my phone be hacked just by scanning?
Usually the risk is the website you open—keep software updated and avoid installing profiles from QR codes.
How do I check a URL from a QR code?
Use your scanner’s preview feature, then run the link through Fraudly before paying or logging in.

Related scam guides

Fraudly is not a law enforcement agency. We provide informational guidance and links to official reporting organisations.

Related Fraudly resources

QR Code Scams — Quishing and Parking Payment Fraud | Fraudly