Police warning around fake QR codes in South Cumbria

It’s after reports of problems at car parks in Windermere, Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere.

Author: Ellie RobsonPublished 25th Feb 2026

People in south Cumbria are being warned to watch out for fake QR codes in car parks after several sites were targeted by scammers.

Police say stickers have been found on payment meters in places like Windermere, Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere, designed to steal your payment details.

Officers are now checking and removing the fake codes.

Drivers are being urged to stick to official apps or pay at the machine, and to avoid scanning any QR code that looks like a sticker.

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