by Gabriel Hernandez

Parking scams have now become a huge problem in Coral Gables, Florida, affecting its residents, business owners, and visitors. From all those tactics scammers have tried, the fake QR Codes take the cake. Scamming fake codes on parking meters and signs direct unsuspecting drivers to a sham website that pilfers personal information and payment details. Residents were outraged, and the city of Coral Gables is now taking measures to battle them.
How the Scams Work
Scammers exploit the ease of QR Codes by slapping stickers with phony codes on parking meters and signs. The phony QR codes appear legitimate, leading drivers to websites to pay parking fines. However, the websites are phony and designed to steal personal and banking information.
Recent Cases in Coral Gables
In the past couple of months alone, several such incidents have come to light in Coral Gables. The scammers hit a highly frequented shopping district and people living in those areas started receiving fake tickets. Instructions were attached for paying on phony web portals. As many as five complaints were issued against towing firms that had ostensibly towed these licensed parked cars.
Coral Gables’ Parking Enforcement Supervisor, Carlos Gutierrez, stated, “The first time something like that happened here was through a resident who noticed it and called the police. Since then, we inspect all the master meters, police stations, and signs.”
His team has removed over 12 fraudulent QR codes from parking equipment and continues to monitor the situation closely.
Ryan Ran, a Coral Gables driver, shared his perspective: “I've heard about the QR code scam, and it's scary because QR codes are so ubiquitous now. Your impulse is to pull out your phone and scan it. I think people who don't live here, like family or friends visiting, would be more susceptible, and it would give them a bad experience."
How to Protect Yourself
To avoid falling victim to parking scams, drivers are advised to double-check the payment instructions through official signage. QR code payments or unfamiliar websites should raise suspicion. Suspicious activity can be reported to local authorities or Coral Gables parking enforcement. Familiarizing yourself with local parking rules and towing regulations may help identify and address illegal practices.
Monica Beltran, Director of Parking and Mobility Services, clarified, “We do not use QR codes, however, that doesn't stop them from putting a sticker and we did find a few. If you go into our website, you will find information where it says we do not use QR codes."
What Officials Are Doing
The problem of fraudulent QR codes in parking areas has prompted local officials and law enforcement to take measures. Staff are deployed to check and remove unauthorized QR codes from parking signs and pay stations. Public awareness is also created through educational campaigns. The city of Coral Gables has covered up more than 7,000 fake QR Codes in the last couple of months.
Beltran added, “We in parking have deployed staff to check all our pay stations and our pay-by-phone signs to ensure that there are no fraudulent QR codes having been placed on them. Additionally, we put out information on our website that warns Parkers to beware of the scam.” Our goal is to implement as tight controls as possible that would not only protect the city, but also our residents, our visitors, and anybody that comes to the city.”
Overall, while scams related to parking in Coral Gables are on the rise, one can always put themselves in control by being informed and watchful to protect themselves and others. A cohesive community can be free of all these devious practices, making lives much safer.
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