'DON'T use QR codes for parking payments' says Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after a fake sticker was found on a parking machine.

The sticker, found on one of the council's parking machines in the town centre, leads residents to a fraudulent website where they are encouraged to enter their details.

The council reminded drivers that Basingstoke and Deane does not use QR codes for parking.

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Posting on Facebook, the council said: "We have recently found a fake QR code sticker on one of our parking machines in the town centre.

"We DO NOT use QR codes for parking payments and any displayed on our parking machines are bogus – they are placed by scammers to fool people into entering their payment details into a fraudulent website.

"Parking payments in our car parks can be made in cash, by card or via the RingGo app only.

If you see a QR code sticker which looks suspicious, please contact our car parking team on 01256 844844 or by emailing parking@basingstoke.gov.uk and report it at actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing."

Insurance company RAC says that across the country there has been a spike in criminals placing fake QR codes over council-owned parking machines in a move dubbed as 'quishing'.

The scam, which has hit drivers in Barking and Dagenham, Northumberland, Northamptonshire, South Tyneside and Pembrokeshire according to the RAC, appears to use a phone app or website to collect parking payments.

The company has advised drivers to pay only with cash, card or through an official app, such as RingGo, on their mobile phone.