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A customer attending a show at the Pontardawe Arts Centre on Sunday, February 23rd, 2025, informed staff that a QR code on a parking machine in Herbert Street, Pontardawe, was found to be fake.

The customer did not make a payment via the QR code after becoming suspicious and it was discovered a fake QR code sticker had been placed over a council sticker.

A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards Department said: “We thank the customer for bringing this to our attention. Unfortunately, this is a common scam at the moment and we are asking those using parking facilities across Neath Port Talbot and further afield to be vigilant.

“The fake QR code stickers involved in this incident have been removed and the council is seeking to identify those responsible for them. It is often the case that those involved in this type of scam are based outside the UK.

“We would advise members of the public that if they scan a QR code at one of our car parks and it does not take them either to a site that is Chipside or MiPermit, it means our QR code has been compromised. If this is the case, please do not enter any card details and make payment at the pay and display machine instead."

Cllr Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council's Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said: "Our officers removed these fake stickers as soon as they could after being alerted to them and we would appeal to residents to let us know if they see any more suspicious QR code stickers.”

Anyone finding false QR codes is asked to report them via Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1144 (Welsh language) or 0808 223 1133 (English language).