A warning has been issued to Islanders after fake QR code stickers were found on Pay and Display machines at a popular Isle of Wight beach.

Discovered by the IW Council at Yaverland yesterday (Thursday, August 1), the fake QR codes were found to be fraudulent, prompting the council to urge the public to exercise caution.

The counterfeit QR codes, designed to mimic the official PayByPhone service, lead unsuspecting users to a fake website.

A council spokesperson said: “Council car park machines do not use QR codes for payment. Motorists should use the PayByPhone app.”

Civil enforcement officers promptly removed the stickers and will check the area regularly to ensure no further scams are attempted.

Motorists are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity or the presence of QR code stickers on council-operated machines. 

Concerns or incidents can be reported to Trading Standards at trading.standards@iow.gov.uk