Asheville Warns of QR Code Stickers Directing Drivers to Fake Payment Sites

City of Asheville parking staff removed several unauthorized QR-code stickers from downtown parking meters along Biltmore Avenue after the codes directed drivers to a fraudulent parking website that requested credit card information, city officials warned on Feb. 25, 2026. City officials issued a blunt advisory to motorists: "If you see a QR code sticker on one of our meters, DON’T scan it."

The city emphasized it does not use QR codes for parking payments and has already taken action to remove a few of the stickers from meters on Biltmore Avenue. An Instagram post associated with the advisory added a specific detail: "Fraud alert Fraudulent activity has been reported involving QR codes placed over JustPark signage on our parking machines." City officials did not provide an exact count of stickers removed.

Asheville officials told drivers to continue using established payment methods: pay at the physical meter, use the text-to-pay option, or use the Flowbird app. The city reiterated that those are the only authorized payment channels for downtown parking at this time and urged motorists to avoid any meter-mounted QR codes that appear unofficial or that cover existing signage.

Local emergency and public safety accounts amplified the warning on social media. A Facebook post that circulated with the advisory read, "FYI Do Not use QR codes if you see them on a parking meter. Only use the App" and was attributed to the Asheville Fire Department, Asheville Police Department and WLOS ABC in the post copy. City officials say they removed several stickers but have not released photographs of the fraudulent QR codes or the fake payment page, and no fraudulent URL was provided in public advisories.

Anyone who spots an unauthorized QR-code sticker on a parking meter is asked to report it immediately to the city by emailing parking@ashevillenc.gov or calling 828-259-5792. City staff requested those reports so crews can remove remaining stickers and document affected meters; officials have not released block-level locations beyond Biltmore Avenue or provided a meter-by-meter count.

The advisory leaves open several investigatory questions: the city has not confirmed whether law enforcement has opened a formal probe, whether any motorists submitted credit card information through the fake site, or whether the incident involved meters beyond downtown Biltmore Avenue. For now, the city’s concrete steps are removal of multiple stickers, a public warning to motorists and the instruction to report sightings to parking@ashevillenc.gov or 828-259-5792 so crews can follow up.