City of Houston: Don't use QR codes for parking fees

If you see a parking pay station in downtown Houston that says you can pay by scanning a QR code, don’t use it.

That’s a warning from the City of Houston after stickers with fraudulent QR codes were discovered. Houston is the latest Texas city to have noticed the problem. 

The fraudulent QR codes in Houston were found after its more than 900 parking pay stations were examined following discoveries in San Antonio and Austin, as reported by ABC 13. 

Houston said the city does not use QR to pay for parking at pay stations. The only four ways to purchase parking time are coins, bills, credit cards at the pay stations or by using the ParkHouston app.

City officials confirmed to ABC13 that officers have spotted QR codes in the following locations: 900 McKinney, north side of the block; 1000 McKinney, north side of the block, 1300 Polk, south side of the block; 1400 Bell, north side of the block; and 600 Polk, north side of the street.

The city will continue to check its more than 900 parking pay stations in Houston to eliminate any remaining QR codes. The public is also advised to take notice and contact parking@houstontx.gov or call 3-1-1.

Anyone who intended to pay for parking using a QR code should dispute the charge with the appropriate credit card company.