A driver has issued a warning to other motorists about QR code scams after she and her fiancé lost £370. Jess Hagan, 28, and Jake Freeman, 29, from Forest Hall, Newcastle, were targeted in North Tyneside on Saturday.
The couple used a QR code attached to a pay and display machine at the Spanish City plaza car park in Whitley Bay. Hagan stated the payment initially appeared to decline, prompting them to pay at the machine instead. They later discovered five transactions, totalling £370, had been made from Mr Freeman's bank account.
Ms Hagan reported that the scam website was highly convincing, featuring legitimate branding and privacy policies, with no obvious red flags. RingGo has confirmed that it does not use QR codes on any signs for parking payments, describing them as "a common tool for scams and fraud".
The couple has reported the incident to their bank, which has initiated a fraud investigation, and to the Financial Conduct Authority. North Tyneside Council has also been informed and urges anyone who encounters similar QR code scams to report them immediately.