QR code scam targeting pay and display parking machines, city warns

The City of Ottawa is warning residents about a new scam targeting its "pay and display" parking machines after discovering stickers with a fake QR code attached to dozens of the curbside units.

"When scanned with a smartphone, [the QR code] navigates residents to a fraudulent version of the PayByPhone website," the city warned Friday.

The city said it has no such payment option on its pay and display machines and asked residents not to scan the codes.

On Monday, the city said staff had inspected 90 per cent of Ottawa's roughly 650 pay and display machines and removed 51 fraudulent stickers. No stickers have been found since Friday, though inspections were expected to continue Monday.

"If you see a QR code on any of these machines, call 3-1-1 to alert staff so that the stickers can be removed immediately," the city asked residents.

The city issued this image showing one of the fraudulent QR code stickers, right. (City of Ottawa)

Residents who suspect they've fallen victim to the scam are encouraged to check with their credit card provider and contact Ottawa police. Ottawa police indicated Monday they'd have an update on their investigation by Tuesday.

Some motorists told CBC the scam would be an easy one to fall for.

"It's automatic for you [to] just open the camera on the smartphone and just scan the QR code," said Thales Dutra, who often parks downtown.

"It's good to check everything. Don't trust it at first, question it," added Ervin Jean-Pierre, who told CBC he planned to review his banking records after hearing about the scam.

Thales Dutra told CBC the parking machine scam would be easy to fall for. (Jenna Legge/CBC)

Residents are reminded to use the correct payment methods at parking machines, which include downloading the official app, visiting PayByPhone.com or calling 613-691-1700.