Shocking video has emerged showing a QR code scam targeting electric vehicle drivers in Britain.
In the clip a man films a sign for a Siemens Ubitricty EV charging port in London.
The sign asks people to scan the QR code and follow the instructions online to pay to charge their vehicle.
The man filming the video then begins to pick away at the QR code to reveal that it is in fact a sticker plastered over the legitimate code.
He says: ‘Anyone who uses the lamppost chargers, watch out for this latest con.
‘These are meant to be barcodes. Rub your finger over them and you can feel it’s stuck on there.’
The video shows a sticker plastered over a legitimate QR barcode that redirects people to a scam website
On first glance, the sign looks and appears to be legitimate which could easily trick unsuspecting customers
He adds: ‘Just peel it off. This is the black one and underneath is green.
‘That’s how you can tell the difference.’
It seems that the bogus QR code would link unfortunate victims to a fake site to extract details.
Also, if people fall for the scam then they will still be liable for the electrical charge.
An Ubitricity spokesman said: ‘We have been made aware that a number of Ubitricity charge points had been vandalised with fraudulent QR codes, criminal activity which we deplore.
‘We swiftly contacted customers, providing information on how to identify such fraudulent QR codes and measures they can take to protect their data.
‘We have reported this matter to the UK National Cyber Security Centre and UK Action Fraud, and we are taking steps to mitigate further fraudulent activity, including providing whatever assistance the authorities may request to bring those responsible to justice.’
Experts issued alerts over bogus QR codes in car parks for some time now.
Other cons involve people putting up fake codes that redirect people to a website set up by the scammers who then extract information including bank details from the victim.
But now the similar trick is being employed to target people charging their EVs.
EVs are growing in popularity and many people rely on public charging points on suburban streets, fast food restaurants and supermarket car parks.
Running a finger over the code, the person filming said they could feel that there was a sticker
Once the sticker showing the black QR code was removed, you can see the real green code underneath
The electric car charging infrastructure is growing rapidly in the UK and it is going to continue at a fast rate ahead of the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
There are more than 60 different charging networks across the UK including Ibitricity, now owned by Shell.
Only a minority of charging points in the UK allow you to pay directly by credit or debit card.
Depending on the network, you will either need to download an app or go to a website.
To charge an EV with an Ubitricity port, it costs 46p per kWh which will be available to all customers for 21 hours a day.
Some zero-emission vehicles have to be driven for almost 50,000 miles before they are as ‘green’ as cars powered by fossil fuels (file photo)
Manufacturing electric vehicles generates 63 per cent more carbon dioxide than making petrol or diesel models, damning research has found. Pictured: A Volkswagen e-Golf (file photo)
This means it will cost around £23.83 to charge an electric vehicle, according to What Car.
But there is peak pricing between the hours of 4-7pm which is prices at 79p per kWh, which is a total cost of £40.92.
Because EVs are in their infancy, there is a limited amount of charging ports in the country.
While London has better infrastructure for the new vehicles than other parts of the UK, it can still be a struggle for some EV owners to find a charging port.
This could mean people who are desperate to charge their vehicles could be more likely to fall victim to a scam if they have to use a new charging port for the first time without properly checking the validity of the QR code.
According to Action Fraud, you should avoid scanning QR codes entirely.
But such scams take advantage of our eyes’ incapacity to ‘read’ QR codes, there are some signs that indicate if you are dealing with a fraudulent QR code.
Electric car owners will have to pay road tax for the first time from April 2025, as part of ‘eye-watering’ Budget plans designed to fill a £54 billion hole in the public finances
Before scanning, you should check the destination site of the QR code.
Check for mistakes and misspelt words, shoddy design, low-quality photos, and insecure URLs as indicators that you’ve landed on a bogus website. Sites that are “secure” will use HTTPS rather than HTTP and will have a padlock icon next to their URL.
Before directing you to the intended page, your phone will tell you the destination of the QR code.
Check the URL to see if it seems safe. If the URL is shortened or unreadable.
A public QR code or one you receive in the mail could have been added there by a threat actor or be easily altered. Avoid scanning these as much as possible to minimise the risk of infection.
For extra caution, avoid downloading QR code scanning apps and only use your phone’s built-in QR scanner in the camera.
If you do fall victim to a scam, you should change your passwords and secure your online accounts.
Disconnect from you Wi-Fi or mobile network as soon as you realise you’ve downloaded any malware onto your device.
There is less risk that the malware may send you sensitive information to a hacker if there is no connection.
Also, you should srt up a fraud alert for your cards.
If you entered any financial information, you should notify the credit bureaus as soon as possible.
Fraud alerts and credit freezes make it more difficult for con artists to open credit cards or commit loan fraud.
Have YOU been tricked by a fake QR code? Contact [email protected]
