Whistler warns of fraudulent QR codes in parking payment scam
The fake QR codes were spotted by bylaw staff on Saturday.
By Cheryl Chan
Last updated 7 hours ago
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The resort municipality of Whistler has issued a warning about a new payment scam that targeted people parking in lots and on Main Street on the weekend.
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Whistler said fraudulent QR codes imitating PayByPhone payment signs were found on pay parking terminals and signs at several lots Saturday.
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Bylaw staff discovered the fake codes at Whistler day lots 1 to 5 in Whistler Village, on municipal parking areas on Main Street, and the private Marketplace parking lot off Lorimer Road.
“The QR codes directed users to a fake website designed to collect payment,” said the municipality in a news release issued Monday. “We believe the payment would have gone to the perpetrators of this fraud.”
The stickers were removed by Sunday morning. Bylaw staff also reported the incident to RCMP.
“It is believed that the QR codes were in place for a very short period of time and no victims of crime have been identified,” it said.
The municipality does not use QR codes for parking payment. Instead, parking in the day lots, on Main Street, and other municipal parking areas can be paid at the pay stations using coins or a credit card, through the PayByPhone website or app, or by calling 1-866-234-7275.
PayByPhone, which is contracted to collect parking payment, proactively searches online for fraudulent websites and shuts them down, said the municipality.
People who scanned the QR codes for parking should contact their credit card company to report the fraud, it said. Anyone who believes they paid for parking and got a ticket can dispute the ticket on the city’s website.
Earlier this month, the City of Vancouver issued an alert warning about fraudulent QR code stickers stuck on some parking meters and pay stations which, when scanned, sent people to a fake PayByPhone website.
Like Whistler, Vancouver does not use QR codes for parking payment.
