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An interesting recent post on Reddit r/electric vehicles popped up yesterday with a warning that claims a father and son were ripped off with a charge to a popular cosmetics company after using an EV charging station’s QR code.
The responses to the post thread took the post at its face value and agreed that scammers using QR stickers placed on EV chargers are a problem and that EV owners need to be aware of this type of scam.
NGL this is a pretty smart scam. So many people pull up to a charger and have zero idea what to do ―Lawbradoodle
I know of this scam from parking lots. Basically, you scan the QR code, and it takes you to a real-looking website. You put in your credit card info and it charges you correctly and starts the session. Then later they charge your card for like $500
It’s kind of a brilliant scam because you get the thing you’re paying for so you don’t notice anything is wrong ―mobilonity
Brilliant, but this may not have been a QR sticker scam.
Credit Card Processing Check
Digging a little deeper into the “NYX Professional Makeup” charge report some EV owners have experienced on their credit card alerts, several posts in this thread and another earlier Reddit forum thread titled “Charged at Electrify America for $8.00 but was charged as Nyx Cosmetics for $50” explain that this is not a scam but only a type of digital typo during a credit card processing check.
A credit card processing check basically works like this:
- From the QR code the charging station’s system (or the payment gateway) checks the validity of the payment method and authorizes the transaction.
- The payment processor then transmits the transaction data to clear and settle it for the charge point operator.
- Once the payment is authorized, the charging process begins.
- After charging, the driver stops the session, and the system processes the final payment amount.
- However, in some cases, an extra charge is credited as a “hold” to ensure that the credit or debit card does not bounce back afterward.
The problem is that either on a credit card statement or a banking app that alerts you to a charge made on your credit card, a confusing tag like “NYX Cosmetics” or “NYX Professional Makeup” shows up with a location different from the one that you had charged your vehicle.
For example, in the earlier Reddit forum, we find an EV owner relating his experience:
First time EV user. We live in SD. Charged at a Electrify America station and I used my Apple Pay to pay for 2 hours use. The total was around $7.85.
I looked at my Apple wallet and it shows now a pending charge for $50 from Nyx Cosmetics…in Arcadia which is 130 miles from me.
I recently got my card skimmed at a gas station for our other car (gas) so I’m being hyper vigilant on all my accounts now, so this happening to a tap to pay is giving me anxiety at 1 in the morning
I’m still on hold for Goldman Sachs on the phone as I type this – the Apple Card bank so no resolution yet.
Has anyone had this happened before? Is the 50$ some sort of weird hold or was my card skimmed again?
The mystery $50 charges and the credit alert tag worried the OPs in this and the earlier post.
Others who have experienced this were quick to reassure the OP’s that this was a normal occurrence with using Electrify America:
Sometimes they do that pre-authorization to make sure you aren’t paying with a bad credit card or a Visa GC with no money, then refund you the difference once the session is over. I know the Shell/Volta chargers do that even if it’s a free one. But it’s still a good thing to look out for as sometimes there isn’t even a way to pay on the unit directly ―jimmysofat6864
I just charged this evening at the new EA chargers at Fashion Valley in SD. Same $50 hold. I noticed on my Google wallet notification it said the same NYX Cosmetics. However, when I double checked with Chase, the card charge says NYX Electrify. May be a bug with the wallet apps reading the merchant ―EmilioIngrasci
QR Sticker Scams Are Real
QR sticker scams at EV charging stations are a sneaky type of fraud where scammers stick fake QR codes over legitimate ones on the chargers. The risk they pose to EV owners is that they can:
- Steal credit card info when you “pay.”
- Trick you into entering login details.
- Download malware onto your phone.
- Capture personal info for identity theft.
Why they work is because people at chargers are often in a hurry, expecting to scan-and-go, and might not stop to double-check a QR code. Plus, many EV stations actually do use QR codes for payments or account setup, so it feels normal.
How to Stay Safe:
By following these three tips, you can lessen the risk of falling for a QR sticker scam:
- Use the official charging network app (like ChargePoint, EVgo, etc.) instead of scanning random codes.
- Check if the QR code sticker looks tampered, wrinkled, off-color, and/or lacks a professional design look.
- If a QR code seems suspicious, don’t scan it―use NFC tap or the station’s keypad instead.
By staying vigilant and following these tips, you can protect yourself from QR code scams at EV charging stations. If an odd charge tag appears on your credit card or app alert, immediately check its validity by contacting your credit card or banking institution for help.
For additional articles about protecting yourself from a car-related scam, here are a few for your consideration:
- Our Daughter’s First Car Scam Experience
- Car Dealer Scams Customer with a $120,000 KIA
- How Car Rental Companies Scam People Out of Money
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
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Source: torquenews.com
