Browse
Log in / Register
Share
May 9, 2026 — Drivers using Perth and Kinross Council parking facilities in Scotland are being warned again after fake QR code stickers were found and removed from ticket machines at five downtown car parks. RingGo, the authorized mobile payment provider, says it does not use QR codes for parking payments.
The stickers were spotted at South Inch, South Street, Scott Street, Library East and Hospital Street. They were removed after council staff were alerted, and reminders were posted on social media urging motorists not to scan any QR codes on parking equipment.
In an official alert, Perth and Kinross Council said: "Please do not scan any QR codes on parking machines. To pay for parking, please use coins, your card or the official RingGo app. RingGo does not use QR codes for parking payments. Make sure you only download the app from the App Store or Google Play."
The council also asked anyone who sees a QR code to report it to ParkingServices@pkc.gov.uk rather than using it.
This is not the first time Perth and Kinross has had to deal with fraudulent stickers. The authority said parking ticket machines were targeted in June 2025 and again in April 2026. In the latest round, more stickers appeared after the first one was found, forcing additional clean-up visits to different car parks.
The recurring incidents have frustrated local drivers. Some have questioned why the council continues to use a third-party app at older machines instead of simply accepting cards at every pay station.
One local response to the council's Facebook update said: "Why don't you just ditch the involvement of RingGo and just accept card payments directly on machines? These machines are so old it's ridiculous; replace them or update them to take cards."
Another comment suggested adding a permanent notice to each machine: "How about you highlight it on the parking machine that RingGo doesn't support QR codes?"
The council defended its approach, saying it tries to offer a range of payment options.
A spokesperson said: "We want to provide a range of convenient payment options for people using the council's on- and off-street parking facilities. Therefore, motorists can pay by cash and/or card and via the RingGo app, depending on location. These options are kept under review."
The council also explained that RingGo users pay a 20p convenience fee on top of the parking charge. That fee covers an optional booking confirmation text and a reminder 10 minutes before the digital ticket expires. The charge goes directly to RingGo, not to the council.
Season tickets can be bought through the RingGo app for weekly or monthly parking in Perth city centre, Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blairgowrie. At Canal Street Multi-Storey, weekly and monthly season tickets can be purchased directly at the car park.
RingGo said QR code sticker scams are a persistent problem across the parking industry.
A RingGo spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, scammers imitate the services we use daily to try and con people. At RingGo we work closely with local councils to remove any scam QR code stickers as soon as they are spotted and we are constantly looking at new ways to make it more difficult for the scammers to operate. This is an ongoing issue, but it is not one that we have seen a particular rise in recently."
The company said it supports card payments at pay stations when councils choose to provide them, but it argues that mobile payments offer drivers flexibility. RingGo says app users can extend a session without returning to the car, avoid queues, and skip the need to display a paper ticket.
QR code scams, often called "quishing," rely on stickers placed over legitimate codes. Scanning the fake code sends the driver to a cloned payment page designed to capture credit card details.
Security researchers have warned that this tactic is hard to stop because QR codes are physical and easy to cover. A hurried driver may not notice that a sticker has been applied on top of the original label.
The official RingGo app does not depend on QR codes. Drivers can safely pay through the app, but only if they download it directly from an official app store. Any web address arrived at through a QR code should be treated as fraudulent.
This parking scam is a reminder for US visitors heading to Scotland. Similar QR code tricks have appeared on parking meters and public EV chargers in American cities. The FBI has previously warned about malicious QR code stickers in public places.
For a safe trip:
The council's advice can be reduced to five steps:
QR codes on Perth and Kinross parking machines are not part of the official payment flow. The council and RingGo have been clear on that point, and drivers who follow the warning can avoid falling for the scam.
The parking QR code scam in Perth and Kinross is a repeat problem, not a one-off incident. The council's message is simple: don't scan, don't click, and don't enter payment details outside the official app. Report suspicious stickers and, when possible, use card or cash at the machine.
Local parking machines may be old, and the payment system may be awkward for some drivers, but the official route is the only safe route. Anyone who comes across a QR code sticker should treat it as a red flag and alert the council immediately.
