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Warning over fake QR codes on parking machines (www.bbc.com)

submitted 3 months ago by gytrash to c/privacysecuk

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

"The codes look like they are part of the council's payment system, but instead lead to a phony website.

Motorists who think they have paid for their parking via a fake QR code also risk parking fines, the council added..."

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[–] ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

How about you keep the graffiti off your signs then, instead of fining people who USED YOUR SIGN to pay for parking.

[–] ThePantser@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago

Or we could go back to individual meters that were harder to scam people with. Stop making the public do the government job. Their meter people can easily do a inspection of the signs every day.

[–] GreatAlbatross 2 points 3 months ago

Ever since the samsung debacle, I've treated QR codes in public spaces with extreme suspicion.
It's loading data from an unknown source, directly into your phone, and hoping that there isn't some unknown exploit.
Utter insanity: Just use a reasonably short URL.

I honestly do feel sorry for the council on this one, it's not easy to stop twats spamming these up.
Though not using QR in the first place would make people less likely to fall for it.

[–] GiveOver 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Does anybody prefer these "pay online" machines anyway? I rarely drive so I only have to operate one of these once every few months. I don't want to download an app and sign up for some shite account just to park for half an hour. It would be one thing if it was a unified service for the entire country but I don't think I've ever used the same app twice

[–] blackn1ght 2 points 3 months ago

I do to be fair, at least in the concept. Being able to add extra time and have reminders is pretty handy when you're unsure exactly how long you're going to stay.

It was great when there was a just a single app, but now it seems each car park in the country uses their own app and so you have to register and add your car each time.

The worst is when the ticket machine is broken so you have to pay by phone, but there's no phone signal.