Auckland motorists targeted by fake QR code parking meter scam

Author: Rachel Maher,
Publish Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2026, 1:11pm

Fraudulent QR code stickers have been stuck on parking machines in Auckland’s city centre.

Auckland motorists are being targeted by a parking meter scam designed to steal credit card details.

Fraudulent QR code stickers have been placed on Auckland city centre parking machines, directing motorists to scam websites.

The warning follows similar scams found on Wellington and Christchurch parking machines.

Auckland Transport (AT) head of transport and parking compliance Rick Bidgood said the agency did not use QR codes.

Parking officers were keeping watch for and removing any stickers they found, he said.

He urged people who spotted the stickers to report them to AT and not scan them.

“It’s safe and easy to pay for parking using the AT Park app or by using a credit or debit card at the nearest parking meter,” he said.

“AT never uses QR codes on parking machines or for parking payments, so our message to Aucklanders is clear – skip the QR codes to stay safe.”

AT’s Head of Transport and Parking Compliance Rick Bidgood says it’s easy to stay safe when parking by not scanning any QR codes. Photo / Michael Craig

The National Cyber Security Centre also advises people to check where a QR code is taking them before entering personal or payment information.

Auckland City financial crime unit Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton said people should use official parking apps or machines wherever possible.

He warned the fraudulent QR codes could direct motorists to websites operated by offshore scam centres, where criminals could obtain their credit card details.

“From there, the scammers will use your credit card details to wreak havoc and attempt to fraudulently use your money,” Bolton said.

Anyone who entered details into a suspicious website should contact their bank immediately, with Bolton warning the sooner people acted, the less opportunity scammers had to cause damage.

People who see parking machines being tampered with are urged to report it to police.

Auckland is the latest city to be hit, with Wellington parking staff removing about a dozen fraudulent stickers from meters in recent days.

Motorists who scanned them were taken to a website that collected parking and vehicle information before prompting them to enter their credit card details.

Christchurch City Council reported a similar scam in July after stickers were discovered on council and privately-owned machines.

Rachel Maher is the education correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. She also covers topics such as Auckland issues, crime and local government. She started at the Herald as a breaking news journalist in 2022, before joining the Auckland team this year.