Organised crime gangs are behind a sharp rise in scams linked to fraudulent QR codes, experts say.

The national fraud reporting centre Action Fraud received 1,386 reports of people being targeted last year, compared with 100 in 2019.

Contactless payment hotspots – like parking meters and restaurant menus – are common targets of criminals who stick their own QR codes on signage.

Katherine Hart, lead officer at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said: "We've seen huge amounts lost this way. People have seen their life savings gone and that money is going to finance criminals."

She said quishing was significantly under-reported and presented a "huge challenge" to authorities globally.

'Hierarchy of criminals'

Fraudulent and misleading codes have also been spotted on parcels, in emails and on television.

People who scan them using mobile phones and other electronic devices are directed to websites controlled by the scammers and tricked into handing over data such as bank details.

Ms Hart said some of those placing the codes were likely to be at the bottom of a hierarchy of organised criminals and may not be aware of the implications of their actions.

Action Fraud statistics obtained by the BBC's Shared Data Unit suggest a rapid growth in this kind of scam, with recorded incidents more than doubling in the UK between 2023 and 2024.

Over the past five years, Action Fraud received almost 3,000 reports in total, with a fifth of those linked to the Metropolitan Police force area.

Milton Haworth used his mobile phone to scan a QR code at a council-run car park in Castleford, West Yorkshire.

It directed him to download an unauthorised app, from which he agreed a 90p fee to verify bank details.

But instead of paying to park, he found himself signed up to a subscription service with a £39 yearly fee and no refunds offered.

"I'd assumed I'd paid for my parking but realised it was a scam when I noticed the next day that £39 had gone out of my account," he said.

"The sign said to use the code to park and I hadn't ever heard of QR codes being used as a scam."

Mr Haworth blames the spike in cases on authorities "not taking this seriously enough".

He said: "Nobody seems to care, there doesn't seem to be anyone trying to find these people.

"It's incumbent on the authorities to go after them but I don't think they do because it's small amounts taken, not multimillions.

"But if it's £39 a month, what if there's a million people being duped?"

'Stay vigilant'

Ms Hart said victims often lost small amounts initially as those responsible gathered the data they needed to launch a "secondary scam".

"You might lose £2.99 and a lot of people won't report that and don't realise they've passed on their information to a criminal organisation," Ms Hart said.

"Days or weeks later, they get a call telling them they've been the victim of a fraud and they can pinpoint a day, because they already have all of the information you shared with them earlier.

"They convince you using very coercive tactics that they're from your bank, police or Trading Standards and they want to take everything you've got."

Experts including the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre say it is vital that people "stay vigilant to cyber criminals".

Kirsty Blackman, Scottish National Party MP for Aberdeen North, spoke to the BBC after removing fake QR codes from parking machines in the city.

She said tackling the problem was "genuinely difficult", adding: "Organised criminals are there to make money in whatever way they can and I think they'll scam people whatever we do. It's about trying to whack the moles as they pop up."

She said the more victims filed reports with Action Fraud, the better police could take action.

"QR codes can be really useful," she said. "My kids' school sends them out regularly to share information, for example. That's why it's difficult for people to tell the difference between a legitimate code and a fake one.

"When you're scanning a code to pay for something, that's when you really need to stop and think."

The Metropolitan Police has warned Londoners of the dangers of going into rivers and lakes after a recent rise in fatal incidents.

The Met's Marine Policing Unit (MPU) says the River Thames moves at extreme speeds and while the water may look calm, the tides could easily drag someone a mile (1.5km) in just 10 minutes.

Ch Insp Rob Ranstead, who leads the MPU, said: "We absolutely understand the natural draw of rivers, lakes and open water across the city.

"However, we have sadly seen a recent rise in incidents where people have got into difficulty – and very tragically, some have lost their lives."

He has appealed to the public to "please enjoy London's waterways safely, but never underestimate the risks".

While many people may be aware of the dangers of entering the Thames, other waterways can also be dangerous: strong currents, sudden drops, hidden hazards and cold-water shock can affect even the strongest swimmers.

The Met is asking parents to talk to children and young people about the risks as many incidents involve teenagers during school breaks or weekends.

The warning comes after 15-year-old Izaiah Smith died after going swimming in a lake in south-east London.

A few days earlier, 11-year-old Kaliyah Coa went missing after she went paddling in the River Thames near Bargehouse Causeway, in east London during a day off from school. A recovery mission is under way, the Met said.

'Respect the water'

People who do want to swim in the city's waterways are advised not to do so in open water unless it is part of a supervised and safe environment and not to enter the water if they have taken drugs or alcohol.

Ch Insp Ranstead added: "Our officers patrol the River Thames and many of London's waterways on a daily basis.

"We see the heartbreak and devastation these preventable tragedies cause – with families changed forever in a matter of seconds.

"Working with partners we are increasing our visibility and delivering water safety education, but we need the help of the public.

"Please respect the water, look after one another, and think twice before taking unnecessary risks."

The Met also said if people did find themselves in difficulty, they should follow the RNLI's Float to Live steps:

• If you fall into water, fight your instinct to thrash around
• Lean back, extend your arms and legs
• If you need to, gently move them around to help you float
• Float until you can control your breathing
• Only then, call for help or swim to safety.