What the 23 October warning reports
On 23 October 2026, Bern’s cantonal police reported an increase in fake QR codes on parking meters, including in Bern and the Bernese Oberland. The stickers lead to websites designed to collect personal and payment information.
This warning concerns the Swiss canton, not a newly confirmed campaign across Belgium. It nevertheless highlights a familiar situation for drivers: official-looking equipment, a known logo and an invitation to pay for parking quickly.
The trap starts when the appearance of the sign replaces a check of the process. A QR code can open an information page, an app or a payment service. Those three actions are not interchangeable.
Information, app, payment: recognise the expected route
- A code that informs
- It can open prices, operating times or payment options. Viewing that page does not mean a parking session has started.
- A code that opens an app
- It can lead to an operator’s app or its download. Opening the app does not, by itself, confirm the selected zone or duration.
- A route that takes payment
- A payment request must match the service authorised for that location. Before continuing, find that service through an official route independent of the sticker.
The useful question is therefore not just whether the QR code scans, but whether it performs the action announced by the operator. Our guide explains how to examine a QR code’s destination.
In Ghent, street meter QR codes provide information
In its statement of 14 August 2026, the City of Ghent reported finding and removing fake stickers on some parking meters. They opened a fraudulent payment page using EasyPark’s appearance and logos.
The City describes its own process precisely: an official street meter QR code leads to the municipal website for information, never straight to a payment page. The payment options it lists are card, SMS and a mobile provider’s app.
That distinction applies to the system described in Ghent. It does not mean every parking payment by QR code is fraudulent, everywhere and with every operator. In another city, check its current instructions before applying that rule.
Before entering details, return to a known route
EasyPark’s prevention page describes QR codes that open its app or direct users to download it from official stores. If a sticker seems doubtful, the operator advises opening the app directly and entering the zone number.
- Look for a label covering the original code or instructions. An extra layer is a warning; its absence does not prove authenticity.
- Identify the operator and the action announced on the sign. Check the instructions through its official website or an app you already know.
- If you use that app, check the zone, vehicle and duration before confirming. Do not let an unexpected page push you into a different process.
- If you cannot confirm the expected service, stop entering details and find the payment method indicated by the operator.
A logo, polished page or sharp QR image is not enough to authenticate a request. For a comparison with paying in a shop, read our news article about Wero and Bancontact Pay.
Suspicious code or details already shared: distinguish the situations
You have spotted a suspicious sticker
Do not try a payment to test your suspicion. Note the location and the machine’s visible reference, then report it through the city’s or operator’s official contact details. Bern’s statement asks people to report falsified codes and their location to the police; Ghent provides a route to report them to the City.
You opened a page without sharing details
If the destination does not match the expected service, close the page and start again through the official route. Scanning and approving a payment are different actions. An opened page alone does not establish what happened on your device.
You entered payment details
The cited authorities recommend contacting your bank or card issuer immediately. In Belgium, also find the blocking service on the official Card Stop website. Keep useful evidence and follow the relevant services’ instructions for filing a complaint; do not wait for a possible debit before seeking help.
Card Stop states that an assistant will never ask for your secret PIN or access code for your payment methods. Qurl does not check your bank account or process the report.
For a public sign, state exactly what opens
Fictional example: an association organises a walk and lists parking near the start. Its QR code opens an access page with links to the operators. The caption “Access and parking: view information” describes that destination better than a vague “Scan here” or a promise of payment.
The sign keeps the association’s web address and meeting point readable. It does not collect bank details or reuse an operator’s codes. A named person can then inspect the sign and replace a damaged one.
Choose a precise caption · Provide access without scanning · Also distinguish a bicycle identification QR code
Questions that come up at a parking meter
Is a QR sticker always fake?
A sticker deserves inspection, especially if it covers information. That detail alone does not determine authenticity: compare the sign, destination and operator’s instructions. Ghent’s statement also shows that a fake page can use a familiar logo.
Can Qurl’s reader certify a parking QR code?
No. It can extract an image’s content to help you look at an address; it does not authenticate the machine, operator or payment request. For the difference between reading and taking action, see the guide to how a QR code works.
Can I arrange parking without scanning?
Use the methods indicated by the operator for that zone. In Ghent, the statement lists card, SMS or an app. Elsewhere, check the local options; doubt about a QR code does not replace the displayed parking rules.