Hertfordshire County Council is warning drivers not to fall for fake signs about London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone which have QR codes linking to scammer sites.

The council has refused to allow ULEZ signs to go up in the county, and Transport for London’s signs do not include QR codes.

In a message on X (formerly Twitter), the county writes: “f you see a ULEZ sign when out and about in Hertfordshire that has a QR code, please do not access it using your smartphone. These codes may lead to fake ULEZ payment sites used by scammers.”

“Scammers will always find new ways to try and con people out of their hard-earned money, and using fake ULEZ signage to direct people to fraudulent sites seems to be the latest wheeze,” councillor Phil Bibby, executive member for highways and transport at Hertfordshire County Council told the Hertfordshire Comet newspaper.

“We urge drivers or pedestrians not to access the QR codes on these signs and to report them to us if they see them as they go about their day to day lives. We’ll take action to remove them and work with our partners to try and bring the culprits to account.

“Hertfordshire’s stance on the Mayor’s ULEZ remains the same, we will not permit TfL signs in the county and believe that TfL should redraw the boundary inwards and warn motorists of the impending zone inside London.”

The report says that some of the QR codes also link to explicit adult content or in some cases, the theme tune to the Wombles.

(File picture – RAC)