How drivers can be aware of parking scams
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NewsTranscript
00:00So we're really warning people to,
00:03the best thing to do is just not to use a QR code,
00:06especially if they look like they've been stuck
00:08onto the parking sign.
00:11You can generally tell because they look,
00:13maybe they're too big,
00:14maybe they're obscuring some of the proper information below
00:17but if you just don't use them and resort to paying
00:20either by cash or card or by an official app,
00:23then you will be safe.
00:25The criminals use technology too
00:28and they work out the best ways to scam people.
00:32And obviously people are very much on their guard
00:34for things coming through their email
00:35but they're not so much on guard
00:36for signs they see in public.
00:38They see a car parking sign,
00:40this tends to happen at local authority run car parks.
00:43They see what looks like an official sign
00:46and they don't realise that the code has actually been,
00:48QR code has actually been stuck onto the sign
00:51and so they feel more safe
00:53because they're in a public environment
00:54and it's just a great way for scammers
00:56to take advantage of drivers.
00:58It's thought that amid this new wave of criminal activity
01:01that the UK could benefit from a national parking platform
01:04in order to allow everyone to use one app
01:07of their choice to pay for parking.
01:09The government is actually working
01:10on what's called the National Parking Platform.
01:13So of course drivers are a bit fed up
01:15of having to use multiple apps.
01:17So you could be faced with using two, three, four,
01:21even five different apps
01:22depending where you go to pay for parking.
01:24So the government's realised that
01:26and what they're working on is the National Parking Platform
01:28and that basically will allow you
01:31to choose your favourite app,
01:33the one you like using most of all
01:35and wherever you go,
01:35you should be able to pay for parking with that app.
01:39According to the national trading standards,
01:42around 73% of UK adults have been targeted by scams
01:45and 35% have fallen victim to the offence.
01:49If you think the QR code is being stuck on,
01:53take a picture and actually send it to your local authority
01:55and get them to come out and check it.