QR Code Scam in Mississauga Prompts Warning for Guelph Residents
- Saturday, April 25th, 2026 - 3:44 pm
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It looks harmless – just a quick scan to pay for parking. But officials say that simple action could expose your financial information. A recent discovery in Mississauga is raising concerns this type of scam could appear anywhere.
A warning issued by the City of Mississauga is highlighting a scam that could easily surface in other communities, including Guelph.
The city says it became aware on April 22 of fraudulent QR code stickers being placed on parking pay-and-display machines in its downtown core. Staff removed approximately 80 of the fake codes within an hour of discovering them and conducted checks on all machines.
The QR codes were designed to redirect users to third-party payment websites not affiliated with the city. Anyone who scanned and used the codes risked exposing personal and financial information.
Officials confirmed that QR codes are not used to process parking payments on city machines. Legitimate payment methods are displayed directly on the machine screen and include options such as coins, credit cards, and digital wallets.
The city is continuing to monitor parking equipment and respond to reports of suspicious activity. Similar scams involving QR codes have been reported in multiple Canadian cities.
While this incident occurred in Mississauga, the approach is not location-specific. Parking machines in any city – including Guelph – could be targeted in the same way, as the scam relies on placing physical stickers in public spaces.
Residents are advised to avoid scanning QR codes found on parking machines and to rely only on official payment instructions displayed on the equipment. Suspicious codes should be reported to local municipal services so they can be removed quickly.
Anyone who may have used a fraudulent QR code is advised to contact their financial institution immediately and monitor accounts for unauthorized activity.
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