5 car parking scams all UK drivers need to be aware of in 2025

Experts have warned drivers that every time they park their car in one of the nation's many private car parks, they could be about to be scammed, as con artists and criminals may be about to come for your well-earned cash. With car parks seemingly finding ever-increasing ways to leave you with a hefty fine, it's important to realise when you have actually been breaking the rules, or when you have become the target for an opportunistic scam.

These criminals are now thought to be using a whole variety of modern methods and new technology to convince you to pay them, swindling you out of your cash. However, for any motorists scared about the increasing world of car park cons, the experts from insurance companyZego have warned of just five simple things to watch out for that can keep you safe.

1. QR code scams

A new type of fraud that has quickly swept across the nation is known as "quishing" and involves fraudsters placing their own fake QR code stickers over the original, sending paying customers to their own fraudulent site, which can lead to your personal information being stolen.

The dodgy trick has become one of the most common in the UK in recent years, with UK drivers losing £3.5 million from April 2024 until the same month the following year.

The experts add: "It is extremely important for drivers not to trust QR codes at car parks and inspect them very carefully before actually scanning them. Look closely for any signs that might show the QR code has been tampered with and is a sticker placed on top of a legitimate code."

2. Verify parking penalty tickets

Scammers have begun producing fake parking tickets that you can use the same wording, council logos and even payment sites to trick you into coughing up a fine that goes straight to the criminals.

It's best to take a step back and not panic if you've received one of the yellow stickers. Don't panic and pay straight away; instead, closely inspect the ticket and verify that it is real before you reach for a credit card.

3. Fake car readers

Contactless card "skimmers" have been on the rise. Scammers fix their own fake readers over the original contactless box to steal your card information and potentially make big purchases using your card.

The skimmers have become very sophisticated and are often barely noticeable, but it is important to properly inspect the contactless machine to see if it has been tampered with. If you find everything, good old-fashioned coins may be the way forward.

4. Scammers posing as parking officers

There have been reports of people posing as parking attendants, especially in busy areas, like shopping centres, tourist spots or big supermarkets, asking people for cash before quickly disappearing.

The experts suggest that when you're in a car park, make sure to always check for official signage and for extra safety, you can also ask a nearby business how the car park operates.

5. Don't take texts or emails at face value

The experts' final piece of advice is to always be on the lookout for dodgy phishing texts or emails that just so happen to have come through after staying in a car park.

The experts add: "Scammers are very creative and can often send you a legitimately looking text or email stating you have received a parking fine, or that you have failed to pay for parking.

You will then be urged to pay immediately through a website link. Avoid doing anything rash and look over the text or email carefully, inspect if the link in it is to an official website, without clicking on it and keep in mind that parking fines usually come in a physical form."