Fraudulent QR code stickers have been discovered on parking Pay and Display machines across Mississauga, prompting a warning from the City and quick action by staff to remove them.
The City learned of the stickers on November 4 and immediately sent staff to strip them from affected machines, according to a City of Mississauga news release. The unauthorized codes are designed to send people to third-party payment sites that have no connection to the City, putting personal and financial information at risk for anyone who scans and uses them.
City officials are reassuring residents and visitors that QR code stickers are never used to collect parking payments in Mississauga — and never have been. Any QR code found on a City paid parking machine should be treated as illegitimate and not scanned.
Legitimate payment instructions appear on the parking machine's digital screen or on official City signage nearby. Parking can be paid by coin, payment apps such as Apple Pay or Google Wallet, or major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express at all locations. PayByPhone is also available in Streetsville.
Fraudulent stickers are often slapped over existing signage or payment instructions and can lead to fake websites that look convincing but exist to steal personal and financial data.
The City says staff will continue to monitor parking machines and equipment and respond quickly to reports. On-street parking in Mississauga remains safe to use, and following the payment prompts on the machine screen fully protects drivers from this type of scam.
What to do if you spot one
Anyone who sees a suspicious QR code on a City parking machine should avoid scanning it and call 311 so staff can remove it promptly and protect others from the scam.
Peel Regional Police regularly warn that scammers increasingly use fraudulent links and QR codes to steal personal and financial information, and similar scams have been reported in cities across Canada.
Police advise caution when asked to enter payment details through unfamiliar websites or digital prompts, particularly in public spaces. Residents should verify payment methods through trusted sources and contact their financial institution if they suspect fraud.
Anyone who scanned one of the codes and believes their information was compromised can file a fraud report in person at a Peel Regional Police division or community station. Reports are not taken over the phone.
The City noted it does use QR codes in official promotional materials, but those codes come with clear City branding and a customized URL that residents can type directly into a browser. QR codes will never appear on parking machines or be used to process parking payments.
