With the widespread use of QR codes in daily life, cunning scammers have also taken advantage of this technology to design various fraudulent schemes. Recently, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States reported fraudulent QR code scams involving parking lots, where scammers use fake QR codes to steal parking fees and collect credit card information.
One consumer scanned a QR code in a church parking lot and found themselves charged $39.99, a fee unrelated to parking. Another consumer scanned a QR code on a sign near a parking lot, only to be asked to pay $49.99 and told that they had registered for a streaming media service.
In these cases, scammers affixed counterfeit QR codes to parking meters and signs, often displaying information like “Pay for Parking Here.” However, upon scanning these QR codes, users were directed to a payment page requiring them to enter their email and credit card information. Despite believing they were paying for parking, users were actually having their payments stolen by scammers.
According to information from the BBB Scam Tracker website and other sources, common QR code scam methods reported by consumers include luring individuals to open QR code-linked phishing websites, fraudulent payment portals, and downloading content infected with viruses or malicious software.
Websites like the FTC advise consumers to carefully verify the authenticity of QR codes before using them by following these steps:
(1) First, check for any signs of tampering with the QR code. If there are suspicions, avoid scanning it.
(2) Verify the URL linked to the QR code. Most smartphones display a preview of the URL before accessing the webpage. Ensure that the URL is for a legitimate website by checking for spelling errors and confirming the authentic phone number and contact information on the official website.
(3) Install antivirus software on your phone to prevent malware attacks.
(4) Whether through email or packages, avoid scanning QR codes from unfamiliar sources in daily life, especially those claiming to offer gifts or cash, as they are often bait for scams.
While mobile applications bring great convenience, users must be vigilant about the security of their phones and accounts, guarding against hackers and protecting online account security through strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.