Drivers who scanned QR codes should report the fraud to their credit card company immediately
On December 27, fraudulent QR codes imitating PayByPhone payment signs were discovered on pay parking terminals and signs in what is believed to be a form of credit card fraud.
The stickers with fraudulent QR codes were found in Whistler Day Lots 1 through 5 (located in the centre of Whistler Village), on Main Street municipal parking areas as well as the private Marketplace parking lot off Lorimer Road. The fraudulent QR code stickers were removed by the morning of December 28.
The QR codes directed users to a fraudulent website designed to collect payment. This fraudulent website has been taken down. We believe the payment would have gone to the perpetrators of this fraud. Parking customers who scanned these QR codes should contact their credit card company immediately to report the fraudulent activity, cancel their card and monitor for any more fraudulent transactions.
Municipal parking in Whistler does not use QR codes for payment. Parking in the Whistler Day Lots, on Main Street and all other municipal parking areas can be paid for at the pay stations using coins or a credit card, or through the PayByPhone website, PayByPhone app, or by phone at 1-866-234-7275. Parking can also be paid for in person at Municipal Hall during business hours.
The RMOW constantly works to ensure its public parking system, and all other systems which collect personal information, like credit card information, are held to the highest possible standard of care. The PayByPhone company contracted to collect payment for parking proactively conducts searches for fraudulent websites to shut them down quickly. PayByPhone confirmed the fraudulent website in this incident has already been shutdown.
It is believed that the QR codes were in place for a very short period of time and no victims of crime have been identified.
Anyone who believes they paid for parking and was then issued a citation can dispute the ticket here. Please report any parking QR code concerns to privacy@whistler.ca. Again, Whistler does not use QR codes for payment of parking fees.
We would like to thank our Bylaw Services Department for their quick action in discovering the QR code and reporting the incident to RCMP. Their quick action has helped ensure the residents and visitors are protected from this form of parking payment fraud.
The RMOW’s parking system is a safe system which is monitored constantly to prevent fraud and ensure the information collected is protected to the highest possible industry standards. Parking payment fraud is a known form of theft which has affected other municipal systems in B.C.