Beware: Fake QR Code Scam Hits Pinellas County - Detectives Issue Urgent Warning

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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Residents and visitors in Pinellas County should be on high alert as the Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about a new identity theft scam targeting parking meters and mobile parking zones.

Scammers are placing counterfeit QR code stickers on top of legitimate ones, enabling them to capture victims’ banking information rapidly.

In a unanimous decision, the PSTA has voted to reintroduce the Tampa Bay ferry, with Hubbard Marina selected to provide the service.

“These criminals are out to steal your bank account details. If you’re using a debit card, they’ll obtain those numbers,” warned Deputy Geoffrey Moore from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The Financial Crimes Division within the department advises that individuals paying for parking via QR codes should carefully inspect the codes on signs or meters. Look for irregularities such as edges, seals, or misaligned codes to ensure they haven’t been tampered with.

Some in Pinellas County have already fallen victim to this scheme.

“I started to get all of these charges… on this and this and this. Hundreds of dollars here, $199, $99. I went, ‘Oh my gosh, what just happened.’ I couldn’t believe it,” said Lyn Reitz, who recently used a meter in downtown St. Pete.

Reitz said luckily her bank recognized the numerous charges as fraud, which occurred within minutes of payment.

“It was really scary. I never thought about it being a possibility… I mean, it’s a city meter. I figured, how the heck did they do that? It was shocking,” Reitz said.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a fraudulent QR code, contact your local law enforcement’s non-emergency line.