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fake qr code Scam Encyclopedia

2 Common Fake Qr Code Scams & How To Avoid Them

Every pattern below is under active review by WebVetted analysts. Use this master playbook to compare screenshots, chat transcripts, or listings before you pay anyone claiming to operate on fake qr code.

image Scam

Parking Meter QR Sticker Phishing

Scammers place QR stickers over parking meters so drivers pay through a fraudulent site. WebVetted reviews the QR destination, certificate history, and payment processor to prove it is a fake.

Red flags

  • Sticker covers an official QR or looks freshly applied.
  • Payment page lacks references to the city or parking operator.
  • Site asks for login credentials or Social Security numbers.

How to Respond

  1. Use the QR Checker to reveal the underlying URL before entering data.
  2. Pay through the city’s mobile app or physical meter instead of unknown sites.
  3. Report the sticker to municipal parking enforcement with photos.

📌 Case study

Austin drivers were tricked into paying parking citations through a fake site that forwarded card data overseas. Another campaign in Atlanta used glossy QR decals that linked to a clone of the city’s payment portal.

image Scam

Restaurant Table QR Code Skimming

Fraudsters slap fake QR stickers on restaurant tables to skim card data or install apps. WebVetted decodes the QR, inspects the destination, and compares it to the venue’s legitimate ordering URL.

Red flags

  • Sticker design or color differs from other tables in the venue.
  • QR opens a checkout page hosted on a random domain.
  • Page asks for card data before letting you view a menu.

How to Respond

  1. Scan the QR within the QR Checker to review the full redirect chain.
  2. Ask staff to confirm the correct ordering URL or provide a printed menu.
  3. Photograph the sticker and report it to the venue and local authorities.

📌 Case study

We saw skimmers replace dozens of table stickers at a bar, routing diners to a fake Stripe checkout. Another crew linked to an APK that requested SMS read permissions before showing a menu.

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