Winston-Salem residents are voicing concerns about scams connected to parking apps.
Earlier this summer, the city replaced many of its aging parking meters with signs directing drivers to download the Pay-by-Phone app to pay for parking. Since then, officials say the system has been used more than 30,000 times.
But now, reports are surfacing of scams linked to the transition. A post gaining traction on social media this week claims a driver was tricked into downloading a fraudulent app that charged hidden fees.
Jeff Fansler, Winston-Salem’s director of transportation, says the issue may stem from QR code fraud — a tactic where scammers post fake codes on city signage to mislead drivers. Fansler says the city intentionally does not include QR codes on its parking signs for that reason.
“As we maintain our signs, we are of course looking for any sporadic QR codes that someone may maliciously put on our signs that are on the street," he said.
Some privately operated parking lots do use QR codes. But Fansler advises using the web address listed on the sign instead — and double-checking that it’s entered correctly. A small typo could send users to a fraudulent site.