In Italy the scam of the false QR code applied on the parking meters to steal bank data spreads. Find out how to recognize the counterfeit codes and protect you from this deception which risks costing you even savory fines
In the great and varied world of scams, of which many people are victims every day, a new one is added: The scam of the pattern. Until recently, the only way to get the ticket to be displayed on the car dashboard was to pay with banknotes or coins. With the introduction of payment via smartphone, however, some criminals, technology experts, have seized the opportunity to illegally appropriate the data of the unfortunate poor cards, exploiting precisely the patterns.
What it consists of
This new scam, now widespread in many Italian and European cities, deceives unsuspecting motorists who, believing to pay the parking lot, actually “give” money to unscrupulous criminals. The scammers apply stickers with false QR code above the original ones of the parking meter, thus managing to obtain credit card data. The code refers to a site created specifically to deceive users, making them believe that it is the portal or official app for paying the parking.
Once the data has been entered, the scammers have free access to the funds, while the victims do not realize that they have delivered their data to criminals instead of the company responsible for collection.
Among the most affected Italian cities there is Veronawhere the AMT3 company, which manages the urban plan plan on behalf of the Municipality, has already reported the presence of QR Code False and has positioned notice signs with the inscription: “Attention, no QR code is enabled for paying the parking”.
How to defend yourself
The easiest way to avoid this scam is to check, before making the payment via QR code, that the code is not a sticker applied to the parking meter. The real QR code are not applied externally on the device, but are an integral part of the printing with the instructions for use.
In addition, every time the insertion of paper data is required, it is essential to make sure of the authenticity and security of the site or application used for payment.
Because in addition to the damage to see the emptied account, the scam of the parking meter also reserves a mockery: not paying the parking lot, the risk of receiving a fine for non -payment of the stop is correctly run, thus aggravating the situation.
