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Motorists have been urged to stay vigilant when paying for parking after fake QR codes were stuck on meters in some seaside towns.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council in Dorset said its car parks were being targeted by scammers.

It warned that, when scanned, the fake QR codes could lead those trying to pay their parking tariffs to a fraudulent website.

The authority did not confirm which car parks had been affected.

Amanda Barrie, the council's director of commercial operations, said the stickers were being placed on top of genuine QR codes.

"This scam could be easily missed by anyone in a rush," she said.

“Our officers are regularly checking car parks and inspecting individual machines to remove any fake QR codes that may appear."

The authority said it had informed the police and was reviewing CCTV footage of its car parks.

It is encouraging people to pay by mobile app, debit card or cash instead.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has contacted Dorset Police for comment.

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