A person claiming to be behind the fake QR code stickers placed on Christchurch parking machines says the money collected was donated to charity and no card details were stolen.

The person contacted chrislynchmedia.com, using an encrypted email address,  following coverage of the scam, in which stickers with QR codes directing motorists to a false payment website were placed on parking machines across Christchurch, with meter screens vandalised in permanent marker to push people toward the fake site.

Police are investigating the incident through the Christchurch Metro Fraud Squad after Christchurch City Council reported the fraudulent stickers On Tuesday.

The person told Chris Lynch Media the money had “gone directly to a good cause” and offered to refund anyone found to be out of pocket.

“Many people all paid $5 to $15. No cards were taken or copied. None of their financials are at risk. I’ve not profited at all,” they said.

The person said they were capable of taking far more money than they did. “I built a process to take card payments on a pretty well made site, fooled many, and could easily have made $5 payments take $50 or $500. Instead I made payments the same or cheaper.”

They claimed the scam was motivated by frustration at the cost of parking in central Christchurch. “It’s just my personal annoyance. It came from paying an absolute fortune to park in town. If I go get a haircut, go to a birthday, we are paying enormous amounts for little time.”

They said they wanted to protest the cost of parking in Christchurch while avoiding financial harm to members of the public, and acknowledged the action was wrong.

“Some are saying it’s a good thing, however in a balanced society it’s not.”

The person claimed the money collected through the fraudulent payment website had been donated to charity.

Chris Lynch Media has been unable to independently verify that claim.

When asked how many parking machines were targeted, the person said 60. However, Christchurch City Council Head of Transport Stephen Wright told Chris Lynch Media the scale was significantly larger.

“Approximately half of our parking meters were affected, so approximately 120 in total,” Wright said.

Christchurch Metro Fraud Squad Supervisor Detective Sergeant Michael Freeman said police received a report from Christchurch City Council yesterday afternoon regarding the fraudulent parking payment stickers around the central city.

“Police are working with council and are reviewing all possible lines of enquiry,” Freeman said. “At this stage, police are aware of a small number of complaints from members of the public regarding this incident and will be reviewing these accordingly.”

Freeman said anyone with information should contact police through 105, either online or over the phone, referencing file number 260714/8411, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The council previously said stickers were found on machines owned by the council and other parking providers, and that meter screens had been vandalised to stop customers using the machines.

Wright said at the time the council would never prompt payment through QR codes, and the correct payment method for council owned parking sites was always displayed on the meters themselves.

Anyone who believes they may have used the fraudulent website or entered bank card details should contact their bank and phone the council’s contact centre on 03 941 8999.