A sticker over the sticker
Training 1215 minutesparking QR scam
Seven minutes until your meeting. Parking costs $3 and the sign has a QR code. One sticker corner lifts, revealing another pattern underneath.
Training goal: Pay for parking without exposing your account
▶ Play this trainingSituation
- Open it because it is on an official sign
- Check the operator and use the machine
- Ask a passerby whether the code looks normal
- Enter the username but not the password
- Trust the familiar-looking design
- Close the page without entering data
- Pay $3 for an hour at the machine
- Pay $30 and sort it out later
- Leave without paying because the QR is suspicious
- Forward the suspicious link to the whole group
- Tell the operator; contact the bank if exposed
- Only clear the browser history
What you will learn
- A QR code carries a link, not a guarantee
- Check both the amount and the service before approval
- A real fee can be paid through another route
Your real-life step
Before your next QR payment, read the address and compare the final charge with the posted price.
Questions and answers
Is scanning a QR code itself dangerous?
Scanning often just displays a link. Risk increases when you visit an untrusted page, enter details or install software.
How can I check a parking QR code?
Inspect the sticker, compare the domain with the operator’s details and read the amount. If unsure, use a separate verified payment method.
What if I entered my banking password?
Contact the bank through a trusted route. From a safe device, change the password and review sessions with the bank’s guidance.
More trainings in this module
- Let us see your screen
- The first $5 arrived
- Profit you cannot withdraw
- A copied appeal
- Half price, last pair
- Keep $50 for yourself
Numbers are illustrative. A game, not financial advice.