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Caution! Fraudsters rip off drivers at parking meters
In Goslar and other cities, police authorities are warning about manipulated QR codes on parking meters, which can lead to fraud.
Caution! Fraudsters rip off drivers at parking meters
A particularly devious parking meter scam is currently being uncovered in German cities, which is drawing more and more drivers into the criminals' network. How chip Reportedly, fraudsters use manipulated QR codes to redirect unsuspecting users to fake websites. This fraudulent method has increasingly appeared in recent months, especially in cities such as Bad Harzburg, Goslar, Celle and Hanover.
The criminals cover the original QR codes with fake stickers that can hardly be distinguished from the real ones at first glance. Users who scan the QR codes end up on websites that appear trustworthy, but are actually designed to steal personal information and money. This scam is not only annoying, but can also quickly become expensive - in one documented case, a victim had a four-digit sum debited from their account.
How does the scam work?
The fraudsters rely on a stylish appearance of their fake pages. These use logos of well-known providers to gain the trust of users. There is also a great temptation to use alleged instant payment processes, which, however, do not exist. n-tv highlights that the Easypark app in particular is often misused because its QR codes are often covered over.
The police and the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office (LKA) are on alert and are urgently warning against this fraud. Officials in charge have the parking machines checked regularly to detect such manipulations. Drivers should therefore exercise particular caution and check QR codes thoroughly before scanning. This is followed by advice to avoid cashless payments if a QR code looks suspicious.
Protective measures for drivers
- Überprüfen Sie QR-Codes auf Abziehbarkeit.
- Keine offenen Links aus QR-Codes ohne gründliche Prüfung anklicken.
- Im Fall eines Betrugsverdachts schnell die eigene Bank kontaktieren und Anzeige erstatten.
- Nutzen Sie offizielle Apps der Parkdienstanbieter, um sicher zu zahlen.
- Setzen Sie Ihre Kreditkarte im Zweifelsfall sofort aus, um weiteren Schaden zu verhindern.
The authorities are also keeping a close eye on ensuring that the QR codes are designed to be forgery-proof in order to reduce the risk for users. The experts' recommendations are clear: It's better to be safe than sorry, and when in doubt, drivers should resort to tried and tested methods, i.e. cash. T Online informs about further protective measures.
Overall, it can be seen that crime in the area of digital payment transactions is rising to new heights. It's time for all drivers to remain vigilant and critically examine their payment methods. Because quick action can be crucial in these cases.