Southend-on-Sea City Council in Essex issued a renewed warning on 10 March 2026 for drivers to be on the lookout for parking payment scams. The alert follows reports of criminals placing fake QR codes on parking signs and sending misleading text messages about parking fines to local residents.
Southend-on-Sea City Council stated that it does not use QR codes on any parking machines or signage for taking payments. The only QR codes the council uses are on advertisements for the Southend Pass, meaning any other codes found on parking equipment are likely to be fraudulent.
Drivers are also being told that the council will never send a text message to request payment for a parking fine, also known as a Penalty Charge Notice. These fake messages often include links to websites designed to steal personal financial information from motorists.
Council leader Cllr Daniel Cowan and Essex Police are urging anyone who sees a suspicious sticker on a parking machine to report it. Drivers are encouraged to stay alert and avoid scanning any codes or clicking links found on parking infrastructure to protect themselves from theft.
