Scammers put fake stickers on Christchurch parking meters

Scammers are adding fake stickers to Christchurch parking meters, with QR codes directing motorists to false payment websites.

Christchurch City Council is sounding the alarm after discovering stickers this morning on several council-owned and privately-owned machines.

The council said the meter screens had been blacked out with permanent markers to force people to use the fraudulent websites instead of paying legitimately.

Head of transport Stephen Wright said the council was taking the matter very seriously, with stickers being removed immediately and meters checked daily.

He urged residents to recognise such stickers as illegitimate.

"The council would never prompt payment through QR codes and the correct payment method for council-owned parking sites is always provided on the parking meters themselves," he said.

The council said it was working with police and parking providers to find and remove the stickers.