Authorities in Milton Keynes issued an urgent warning on February 16, 2026, after finding fraudulent QR code stickers placed on parking machines in the city centre. These fake stickers are part of a scam designed to trick drivers into visiting dishonest websites that steal private bank details and personal information.
Scammers are specifically targeting machines operated by JustPark by placing their own stickers over the legitimate payment codes. Milton Keynes City Council has clarified that it does not use QR code stickers on any of its own official payment machines and advises drivers to be cautious of any stickers that look like they have been tampered with.
This type of fraud, often called “quishing,” is a growing problem that cost drivers across the country about 3.5 million pounds over a twelve-month period ending in April 2025. Data from Action Fraud shows that these incidents are more than doubling annually as scammers find new ways to deceive the public.
The fraudulent codes typically direct motorists to copycat websites that use different internet addresses, such as those ending in .net or .org instead of .com, to harvest credit card data. Residents are encouraged to use official payment apps downloaded directly from phone app stores rather than scanning codes found on street equipment.
If you spot a suspicious sticker or believe a machine has been altered, you should report it to the council parking team at [email protected] or contact the local police on 101. By reporting these stickers, residents can help authorities identify and remove the fraudulent overlays to prevent others from being targeted by the scam.
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