POLICE are making residents aware of scams involving QR codes.

The codes are on stickers around car parks and parking meters.

The scam involves perpetrators sticking their own fake QR code over genuine ones.

And upon scanning the fake QR code people are taken to a similar but fraudulent website and payment details are then harvested by the criminals.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘Please be wary of QR codes that you may need to scan at various locations, such as paying for a carpark, ordering items/services etc, look out for any tampering/alterations to QR codes and the sticking over/replacing the genuine QR code with a bogus QR code.

‘If you believe a scam is taking place with a potential suspect still close-by please phone 999.

‘If you come across a fake QR code and no suspect is present, please report to Action Fraud and also report via the Devon & Cornwall Police website or by phoning 101.’