RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — They’ve been around for more than 30 years and became popular during the COVID pandemic, but experts warn, when you scan a QR code and you’re not careful, you could be setting yourself up to get scammed.
“73 percent of people in the in the U.S. will actually scan a QR code and then go to the website without actually verifying whether or not it’s legit or,” said Patrick McNeil, a cybersecurity Strategist with GuidePoint Security.
He says scammers are capitalizing on these fun-to-scan squares, in what’s being called “Quishing.”
“While a lot of attacks used to be just phishing campaigns where you get an email, over 30% of those now have moved to QR code scams,” McNeil told CBS 17.
He says scammers will send an email or postcard with a code to scan. The victim may also get a package with a free gift, and to see who it’s from, you have to install an app and scan a code.
The Better Business Bureau urges people to use caution when scanning QR codes. It says within the last six months nationwide, it has received more than 200 reports through its ‘scam tracker’ about scams with QR codes.
“People have to be wary of QR codes on parking meters. They have to be wary of business cards. Even at restaurants, some scammers will put stickers overtop of actual QR codes that contain their fraudulent ones,” said Saige Heigel, a communications specialist with the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Carolinas.
The agency recommends that, before scanning, a consumer confirms the code is valid, avoid opening links from strangers, be skeptical of shorter links, and watch for tampered/altered codes, like cases where a QR code seems to be placed on top of an existing one.
“Treat these QR codes like you would a website link if somebody’s sending you a QR code that maybe it has something to do with a topic that they’re not really familiar with, or if it’s a random number and they’re sending you a QR code or an email, definitely proceed with caution,” said Heigel.
The Better Business Bureau says it has not received an increase in reported QR code scams in Eastern North Carolina, but it is still something consumers in general should be aware of.
Mary Smith
Source link