The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about a fraud scheme targeting tampered parking meters and mobile parking areas across the county.

Scammers have placed fake QR code stickers over legitimate ones on parking signs and meters, allowing them to steal bank account and debit card information within seconds of payment, according to Deputy Geoffrey Moore with the Sheriff’s Office.

At least one Pinellas County resident has already fallen victim to the scheme. Lyn Reitz, who recently used a meter in downtown St. Petersburg, said she began receiving numerous fraudulent charges—ranging from $99 to $199—within minutes of scanning what she believed was a legitimate city meter code. Her bank recognized the activity as fraud.

Detectives from the Financial Crimes Division advise residents to carefully inspect parking signs and meters before scanning any QR codes. Warning signs of tampering include visible stickers, a broken seal, or codes that aren’t perfectly straight.

The scheme is not unique to Pinellas County. Similar incidents have been reported in Fort Lauderdale and San Clemente, California, where 150 parking meters were found with fraudulent QR codes.

Residents who believe they have fallen victim to this scam are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement’s non-emergency line.

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