Kelowna, a city in British Columbia, has recently been hit with a fraudulent QR code scam targeting parking meters. The scam involves placing fake QR codes on parking meters, leading unsuspecting users to a fraudulent payment website.
According to the Kelowna Parking Services, the fraudulent QR codes were first discovered on July 14, 2020. The codes were found on multiple parking meters in the downtown area, and it is believed that they have been in place for at least a week before being noticed.
The fraudulent QR codes were designed to mimic the legitimate ones used by the city’s parking services. However, instead of directing users to the official payment website, they led to a fake website where users were prompted to enter their credit card information. This information was then used by scammers to make unauthorized purchases.
The city of Kelowna has issued a warning to residents and visitors to be cautious when using parking meters. They advise users to double-check the QR code before scanning it and to only use the official payment website, which ends in “.ca”.
The Kelowna RCMP is currently investigating the incident and is asking anyone with information to come forward. They are also reminding the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
This is not the first time that QR code scams have been reported in Canada. In 2019, a similar scam was discovered in Toronto, where fake QR codes were placed on parking meters in the downtown area.
In light of this recent incident, the city of Kelowna is taking steps to prevent future scams. They are working on implementing additional security measures, such as tamper-proof stickers on parking meters, to prevent the placement of fake QR codes.
In the meantime, residents and visitors are advised to be cautious and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. It is important to stay informed and aware of potential scams, especially in this digital age where technology is constantly evolving.
The city of Kelowna is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its residents and visitors. They are working closely with the RCMP to investigate this incident and prevent similar scams from happening in the future.
