Parking in NYC is hard enough: Don't get suckered by the meter

The Department of Transportation is warning drivers of fraudulent QR codes located on city parking meters.

The grift is simple: Scammers place a QR code on a ParkNYC meter and wait for unsuspecting parkers to dutifully pay for their spots. Instead of paying the city, one tourist said he found himself entering his credit card information to whomever went to the trouble of designing a fairly simple, yet sketchy website.

Perhaps the prompt to pay in euros should have been a clue.

The original warning came from a Reddit user who said he and his girlfriend were visiting New York City for the first time. DOT was made aware of the issue and as of Friday said it’s taking measures to make sure others don’t fall victim to the same fraudsters.

“Consumers beware: scammers are targeting parking meters, and we want you to be vigilant. If you see a QR code on a parking meter, do not scan it and please report it,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez in a statement. “This is a scam to collect your payment information, and we are working with law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable.”

You can pay for parking legitimately on the ParkNYC website or by inserting your payment method into the meter. The city has begun inspecting all parking meters for illegally placed stickers.

Similar QR code scams have popped up in Orlando, Florida, Birmingham, Alabama, even the United Kingdom.

🚨SCAM ALERT🚨
A scammer put a fraudulent QR code on at least one parking meter to steal payment information

Do not scan it. Pay via @parknycapp or using a payment card at the kiosk

Law enforcement has been notified and parking meter inspections are underway

What to do 👇 pic.twitter.com/1XIUzyCGsn

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) June 6, 2025

The DOT urges anyone who sees the QR sticker on a parking meter to report it by calling at 212-839-7100 or emailing [email protected]

New Yorkers should remember to always think twice before scanning any QR code, whether that’s on a poster, a Citi Bike, or especially anything asking you to input your financial information, officials said.