China Cracks Down on Parking QR Code Pop-Up Scams

Scanning a QR code to pay for parking in China has become a minefield of deceptive ads, hidden subscriptions, and privacy violations — but regulators are finally fighting back. Drivers across the country have reported that what should be a simple 10-second payment now involves navigating full-screen pop-ups, fake close buttons, and forced WeChat account follows, often resulting in unauthorized charges and data theft.

The Problem: A Simple Payment Turned Into an Obstacle Course

According to a comprehensive report by CCTV News, the problem has become widespread. Drivers scanning parking payment QR codes are met with coupon ads that obscure payment buttons, hard-to-find close buttons that trigger redirects to other apps, and countdown timers before “Skip” buttons become clickable. Some payment interfaces even automatically enroll users in paid subscription services disguised as coupon offers.

The impact on consumers has been significant. Ms. Zhang from Jilin scanned for a coupon but was charged an undisclosed fee. Mr. Li from Guangxi was charged 59.9 yuan instead of receiving a coupon at a sports center. Mr. Qiao from Nanchong, Sichuan, found that a simple 3-yuan parking fee took over a minute to complete due to forced authorization steps. Over 30,000 complaints related to parking QR codes have been filed on the Black Cat Complaints platform.

The Scam Economy Behind the QR Codes

The problem extends far beyond annoying ads. As reported by Guancha, a sophisticated scam ecosystem has emerged. Third-party payment company Helibao was exposed by China’s 315 Consumer Rights Day program for using parking QR codes to secretly enroll users in 49.9 yuan/month subscription services. One company reportedly boasted: “Invest 1 million yuan, get back 1.5 million the same day,” with daily transaction volume of approximately 2 billion yuan.

Even more alarming, vehicle trajectory data theft rings have been uncovered. One criminal gang illegally profited over 5 million yuan from selling vehicle movement data obtained through WeChat official accounts that drivers were forced to follow.

“Public parking lots are a public service. They need to be guided by public interest to provide better service for car owners,” said Ma Liang, a professor at Peking University School of Government, in the CCTV report. “Illegal fraud under the guise of convenience for car owners must be restricted.”

City-Level Regulatory Crackdowns

Several Chinese cities have taken action. Shanghai was the first to implement a “clean code” (纯净码) model, requiring only a license plate number and a payment click — about 10 seconds, with no login or phone authorization needed. As Fast Technology reported, Chengdu issued compliance guidelines on June 1, 2026, targeting forced pop-ups, deceptive marketing, and induced consumption, defining clear operational red lines.

Zhuhai has pursued an industry self-discipline pact. Liu Binshan, Deputy Section Chief at the Zhuhai Market Supervision Administration, told CCTV: “The first batch of 7 enterprises signed and committed to join the self-discipline pact, already covering a large portion of parking lots. In 2025, we counted all registered parking lots and mini-programs — 1,307 registered lots, over 280,000 parking spaces, and more than 40 billing mini-programs. Our ultimate goal is full coverage.”

Other cities including Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Quanzhou have also issued advertising compliance guidelines for parking fee programs.

What the Law Says

Tang Jiansheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Consumer Protection Commission, made it clear in the CCTV report: “While providing the convenience of parking QR code payment, there are those that force or induce consumers to follow official accounts, and those that collect consumers’ personal information beyond scope. These practices are actually very clear illegal acts. Since they are illegal, we must rectify them.”

Several Chinese laws are being violated, including the Internet Pop-up Information Push Service Management Regulations (requiring pop-up ads to be clearly labeled with one-click close), the Personal Information Protection Law (prohibiting excessive data collection), and the Consumer Protection Law (protecting consumers’ right to choose and fair trade).

What’s Next

The question now is whether other major cities will follow Chengdu’s lead and whether national-level regulation from the State Administration for Market Regulation is on the horizon. For parking service platforms like PP Parking, Jie Parking, and One-Code Pass, the crackdown could significantly impact their advertising-driven business models.

As one frustrated driver, Mr. Mao, told CCTV: “When leaving the parking lot to pay, scanning the code shows a full screen of coupon ads. The confirm button is much larger than the payment button. The ad close button is extremely small. I was trying to save trouble, but instead I have to constantly guard against tricks.”

For millions of Chinese drivers, the hope is that “clean codes” will soon be the norm — not the exception.