Over the past few months we’ve seen criminals in the UK trying to scam the public by overlaying fake QR code stickers over car park signage. This is now very real problem for car park operators and management teams and we’ve seen a rise in these incidents throughout the year so far.
The Threat of QR Code Scams
When car park users scan fake QR codes, they are directed to counterfeit websites where they unknowingly make payments to criminals. This form of fraud casts a shadow over the convenience and growing adoption of QR codes for parking payments.
A leader in innovative solutions
This scam can undermine consumer trust and it also poses significant financial risks. However, as a leader in innovative and flexible solutions for parking and environmental enforcement management, Unity 5 is at the forefront of combating this growing threat. Leveraging its cloud-native architecture, Unity5 offers advanced tools and strategies to ensure the integrity and security of parking payment systems.
Unity5 combat the issue
We caught up with Commercial Officer Mark Wilson about how Unity5 are protecting car park operators and in turn users.
“It’s personally an honour for me to work for such a pioneering company. As the leading experts in car parking software, Unity5 is constantly vigilant to these challenges and ready to support our partners with quick, flexible and robust solutions. We’ve been developing a Work Order Management tool in our mobile plus app. Administrators can use this tool to easily set up digital tasks and reminders for their CEOs (Community Enforcement Officers) or on-foot patrols, to check and photograph signage on site.”
The following features help car park operators and their teams:
- CEOs in turn can send message back if they wish to highlight any further issues or concerns and to confirm the fixing of the relevant sign.
- This ensures that fake QR codes are not being left stuck over real ones by the car park QR code scammers.
- For PCNs with QR codes, we also use dynamic QR codes which populate the VRM and PCN number.
This all means reassurance for Unity5 customers and we’re proud to be continually shaping the future of parking by offering painless solutions for Local Authorities and private operators. We of course take the combat of payment fraud seriously and with Unity5, customers aren’t just getting a service, they gain a partner committed to enhancing their enforcement capabilities.
The advantage with Unity5
What sets Unity5 apart in the fight against QR code scammers is our commitment to innovation and partnership. By eliminating the need for costly installations and maintenance through our cloud-native approach, we provide a flexible and scalable solution that can adapt to evolving threats. Customers benefit from a comprehensive service that not only enhances parking enforcement capabilities, but also prioritises security and user trust. We’ll be publishing a ‘Practice Guide for Using QR Codes for On-Site Parking Payments’ soon.
By integrating cutting-edge technology with proactive strategies, Unity5 protects the integrity of parking payments and enhance the overall security of parking enforcement management.
For further advice and support regarding solutions to car park payment fraud, book a call with our experts
Further reading:
Scammers put fake QR codes on parking machines
Warning over Gloucestershire QR code targeting car parks
QR code parking scammers target Exeter car parks
New Parking QR Scam (Staffordshire)
Warning after scam QR codes appear in car parks
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