Drivers using Southampton car parks are being urged not to scan any QR codes on parking meters.

Scammers are attaching fake QR codes to ticket machines in various parts of the city in a bid to defraud motorists.

Scanning the codes takes people to a bogus website where fraudsters try to steal bank or credit card details.

Cllr Eamonn Keogh, the city council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "Our officers and PayByPhone staff take these scams very seriously.

"The way the scams work is to take users to a fraudulent website in an attempt to steal their payment information.

"We are regularly checking our parking pay machines, removing these QR codes when found and reporting the related website to the authorities for removal.

“The best advice is to not scan any QR codes on our machines and only pay for your parking via the PayByPhone app or directly through the machine using cash or card.

"The QR codes have been cropping up in different locations across the city so we are urging people to be vigilant and to take care.

"If you do spot a QR code please report its location to parking.enquiries@southampton.gov.uk.”