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Danger! New fraud trick discovered at parking machines in Lower Saxony!
In Goslar and other cities, the police and LKA are warning about fraud through manipulated QR codes on parking machines.
Danger! New fraud trick discovered at parking machines in Lower Saxony!
In recent weeks there have been increasing reports of fraudulent activities at parking machines, which are causing a stir, especially in German cities such as Cologne, Bad Harzburg, Hanover and Goslar. The police and the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office are issuing clear warnings: In the new scams, criminals manipulate QR codes to trick unsuspecting drivers. In one particularly blatant case, a victim had a four-digit sum deducted from his bank account before he could take action in time to stop the payment. Chip reports on this nasty scam that is becoming more and more widespread.
How does the fraudsters' clever plan work? They cover the original QR codes of the parking ticket machines with fake imitations that look deceptively real. These false codes direct users to websites that are modeled on official providers such as Pay by Phone and Easypark. The pages are designed to inspire trust, often with the strategic use of logos from well-known providers. [T-Online].
How to protect yourself
Drivers should now look very closely. The police recommend checking QR codes for authenticity before scanning. Specifically, this means: Check whether the QR code is clearly visible and intact. If anything is unclear, it is better to avoid cashless payment and download the official app of the respective parking service directly from the app store. The ADAC also recommends avoiding cashless payments via manipulated QR codes and instead using cash or credit cards directly at the machine. It is also advisable to regularly check the parking machines for pasted-over QR codes. ADAC adds that this is a new form of phishing called quishing.
In the event of fraud, you need to act quickly. Those affected should contact their bank immediately and report it to the police. It may also be necessary to block the credit card to avoid financial damage. Cities have responded and are making efforts to regularly remove the covered QR codes to ensure safe use of the parking machines. The warnings from the authorities are clear: “Look closely to see pastings,” says the LKA.
These new criminal scams show once again how important it is to be vigilant and protect your own data well. If we all pay a little more attention, we can prevent these tricks from continuing to fall into fertile ground. So be careful next time you're standing at a parking meter!