Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a public service announcement warning the public to beware of scammers using QR codes for fraudulent activities.
The announcement highlighted that scammers would send unsolicited packages containing QR codes to prompt recipients to scan them, thereby obtaining the recipients’ personal information or leading them to unintentionally download malicious software, through which the scammers could steal the recipients’ phone data.
To lure victims into scanning the QR codes, criminals often intentionally omit sender information on the packages to entice the recipients to scan them. Although this type of scam is not as widespread as others, the public should remain vigilant against such criminal activities.
It is claimed that this QR code scam is a variant of “brushing scams,” where online sellers use this method to boost their product ratings. In traditional brushing scams, sellers send products to unsolicited recipients and then use their information to post positive reviews. In this variant scam, fraudsters use the QR codes on packages to assist in financial fraud activities.
The FBI advises everyone to take precautions before scanning any unsolicited QR codes on communications or packages due to scammers constantly evolving their tactics to target unsuspecting victims:
– Be cautious of packages you didn’t order
– Be wary of packages with no sender information
– Take precautions before authorizing phone permissions and accessing websites and applications
– Do not scan QR codes from unknown sources
– If you suspect you are a target of a brushing scam, change your account information promptly and request free credit reports from credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to help identify potential fraud activities.
The FBI urges the public to report these fraudulent or suspicious activities to the FBI’s IC3 website (website: www.ic3.gov). Provide as much information as possible, including the name of the individual or company contacting you, communication methods used (websites, emails, and phone numbers), and any applications you may have downloaded or authorized for use on electronic devices.
For individuals aged 60 and above needing assistance in filing IC3 complaints, they can call the Department of Justice Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (or 833-372-8311).
A QR code is a two-dimensional graphic code used to store information, composed of black and white squares forming a square barcode that can be quickly read and decoded by machines or phones to obtain the information it contains. It has been applied in various fields such as product tracking, online payments, website navigation, social media sharing, and more.