Start here
The free tool below runs entirely in this browser — no account, nothing stored or transmitted. Redact anything you would not want kept before you type it.
Open the companion tool →Why physical location does not verify digital links
Anyone can print a vinyl sticker and slap it over a legitimate QR code on a parking meter or park pay station.
City parking authorities publish official payment apps and web domains. Comparing the scanned link with the official site prevents payment theft.
The protocol
- Inspect the QR sticker. Check if it feels raised or placed over an existing logo.
- Look at the full URL preview in your camera app before tapping open.
- Compare the domain with the city's official government portal (.gov or official transit app).
- Use the city's official parking app or pay at the physical terminal directly.
What the tool does
Paste the scanned URL or sign text to verify if it routes through an official municipal payment portal. Runs locally.
Limit first: This is a URL reading aid. It cannot inspect physical stickers remotely.
Open the companion tool →One human next step
If you paid on a suspicious link, notify your card issuer immediately and report the fraudulent sticker to the local parking authority.
Research log and safety checks
AI-assist path: not used for a verdict. Direct domain verification against municipal standards. §6.10: not a frontier-pace topic.
§0.5 protection result: category is scam-fraud-defense; crisis-adjacent: no; fear/urgency/scarcity toolkit used: no. The protective function is free and the paid feature is convenience only.