QR codes do not carry scripts or readable data, and regular users cannot detect danger. As a result, most people don’t give any second thought when scanning these quick response codes. Taking things for granted, users follow the resulting prompts, enter all their details, and move along the way to finish the process. Black hats exploit such naive users and tamper QR codes with malware. When a user scans malware-tampered codes, viruses enter their devices and hijack all the critical accounts and data simultaneously. We will shed more light upon all the important elements in this field to protect you from QR scammers. If you want to learn the tips and skills to identify and prevent QR code scams, this write-up is for you. Therefore, let’s go over each of the topics one by one.
What is a QR Code?
QR code, an acronym for quick response code, is a 2-D (two-dimensional) barcode that consists of special data that a smartphone camera or specially designed scanner can read. It is designed to store different data types, including URLs, text, contact information, verification codes, payment information, and much more. It comprises black squares printed on a white background with a patchy appearance. These squares carry various types of information in the form of coding. They work rapidly as soon as you scan them, so they are called quick response codes. The scanner decodes and reads the data in square patterns and provides you information, access, or connectivity to do the task it is designed for.
How QR Code Scams Work?
Cybercriminals create fake and malicious quick response codes and tamper them with powerful malware and viruses. They encode phishing links in these illegitimate codes and add them to stickers, emails, messages, websites, and posters. When a user receives them or comes across them, they mistake these print patterns for being true. However, as soon as users scan them using their device, it turns out that it is not a legitimate code. It led them to unknown site links, fraudulent websites and wrong platforms that are filled with misleading information.
Sometimes, scammers replace legitimate 2-D barcodes with fake ones to commit financial fraud. So, when individuals scan them, they inadvertently send money to other recipients. In addition to this, these barcodes are also manipulated to promote fake prices, offers, discounts and money-back guarantees. People often become lured to these financial offers. But when they use them, they become prey to the trap. In this process, users may lose their sensitive data and other essential details stored on their devices. That is how a QR code scam works.
Effective Tips to Identify and Prevent QR Code Scams!
You have to remain vigilant and cautious whenever you are confronting 2-D Barcodes. You should implement some safety measures to protect yourself from scams and frauds. Here are some effective tips to identify and prevent QR scams:
Always Verify the Sources
Remember, when you use a QR barcode, it is essential to locate its source. If it comes from a reputable organization, company, institute, or official website that is widely trusted and utilized by individuals, then you can proceed with the process. But if it comes from an unfamiliar and distant source, then you should not work with these codes. Such barcodes can be malicious and intended to scam users. In this situation, do some online research about the unfamiliar source and try to know about the public review of the company. Use authentic online sources to know the truth and validity of the relevant website and the organization.
Check the Code Before Scanning
Scammers often tamper with legitimate 2-D Barcodes simply by overlaying them with fake ones. Since users rarely pay attention to these small errors when scanning the barcodes, they are scammed and lead to unknown and phony portals. But you can avoid this danger by visually checking the barcode to find out whether there is any mingling or overlaying of fake QR stickers over the real ones. Feel the texture by moving your fingers around it and see if there is any seam or extra layer over it. If you find any of the signs over it, never scan the sticker, as it will lead you to harmful outcomes. Anyone can perform This simple and quick process with their naked eyes and save them from big problems in the future.
Use Secure Payment Methods
Using trusted and secure payment platforms is essential if you do financial transactions through 2-D Barcodes. These platforms should have robust security and privacy protection protocols and technologies to protect the user’s payment information, credentials, and IDs from fraudsters. Make sure it has an in-built verification system in it that will let you know about the recipient’s details as soon as you enter the details about him. Having this technology in your device will protect you from potential financial losses and information theft. It will provide you with a secure path to make your online payments securely.
Keep Your System Updated
System updating helps indirectly to prevent QR scams. It ensures that your devices have the latest security patches to deal with the vulnerabilities that develop over time due to pending updates. It reduces the risk of malware and virus infiltration on your devices. As a result of this, it will improve the security features and better protect you from different types of scams and frauds. With the latest updates, you will get improved algorithms for detecting malicious URLs and hidden files. Along with this, your system will have upgrades and new features that will provide you with better privacy controls. In the end, security updates will improve overall security against Barcode scams and frauds.
Double Check Permissions
Whenever we download a new app, visit a website, or access a new platform, it asks for a lot of permissions. But we never stay and review these permissions before clicking ‘yes’ on them. Some of the permissions you allow can be harmful in terms of security and privacy. These permissions can access confidential data on your device, which may include passwords, key user IDs, important accounts, etc. If this data falls into the hands of black hats, they use it to exploit the users and extract money from them. It is highly recommended that you double-check all the apps and other types of online permissions before you click ‘Yes’ on them.
Use Mobile Security
Use smart mobile security software on your smartphone to protect it from scams and phishing attacks. Antivirus software is the best solution for keeping your mobile devices secure from malware infiltration, data breaches, and phishing attacks. It will check all the emails, site links, attachments, and network connections for malicious activities and malware presence. Suppose anything suspicious enters or affects your mobile device. In that case, it will block these potential dangers on time and send you instant security alerts to deal with the potential security issues appropriately.
Use 2-FA for Crucial Accounts
Two-factor authentication is another way to protect your money apps, payment portals, and online banking from scams. It will add a protective layer of security that will provide you with secondary verification methods. If, by chance, your passwords are compromised for a particular app, there will always be another barrier that will protect your monetary accounts from illegal access. These secondary methods include facial recognition, security alerts, one-time passwords, and email verifications. Using two-factor authentication, you can secure your accounts from illegal entities and prevent you from becoming prey to scammer bait.
What are Some Latest QR Code Scams?
There are new scams and frauds in the market everyday as black hats are always at work in developing new tactics to exploit people. As a result, you never know what is waiting for you along the way. One wrong step, and you slip to the bottomless abyss. So, the best way to protect yourself against potential dangers is to stay informed about new scams, frauds, and phishing attacks. It will empower you and help you protect yourself from scams and fraud related to quick response codes. To do this, you must stay updated on the latest threats and tips to deal with QR scams. For now, here is a list concise list of the latest 2-D Barcode frauds:
Parking Meter QR Scams
In these types of scams, bad actors stick illegitimate QR stickers on the parking meters. When victims scan these using their scanners, they are directed to an innocuous real payment page. They fill out all the payment details and proceed with it. But in reality, this data is smuggled to the black hats. Because on the receiving end, scammers are getting all this data. With this data, they commit theft and promote fraudulent activities, which include stealing money and paying bills in your name. So, stay alert with the parking meter QR stickers, as they can be purported to steal your financial credentials.
Email Phishing QR Scams
It uses emails to send malicious QR codes to the users. These codes are attached in legitimate-looking emails. These emails proclaim to give access to the invoices, documents, images, and other material if you scan them. But they are mostly there to entice you to take hasty steps and become prey to the trap. Scanning these barcodes results in compromising your sensitive data. It would help if you exercised caution to protect yourself against phishing scams. Never proceed directly to scan the barcodes you receive in the mail. Make a proper inquiry about its sources first, and once it is established that there is no harm in proceeding with this, you should only go for it.
Restaurants QR Code Scams
Restaurants are another hotspot for QR scams. Swindlers present you with fake barcodes when it comes to your payments. They do so by replacing the real codes with the illegitimate ones at the time when you pay the bill. However, you can mitigate this threat by exercising caution when making payments. In this regard, you should always exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of QR codes from the staff. In addition, you can visit the website manually and make online payments on the legitimate portal over the payments. Malicious barcodes, when scanned, lead you to unusual places, tampered websites, and unknown payment links. You will also be asked to provide personal information and device permissions. If you come across these features, then make sure to avoid reporting the incidents to the restaurant staff.
Mailbox QR Scams
Scammers send you fake QR codes in your mailbox, promising discounts, offers, giveaways, and prizes. These emails lure you to scan the QR and get the offers. But when you scan them, you compromise your data and pay your hard-earned money to the swindlers. To avoid this mishap, you should take physical junk mail with the same caution as spam emails. You should avoid clicking them and follow the prompts as mentioned in the mail. These emails will create a sense of urgency and fear in the user by illustrating an urgent situation in the content. But you have to stay focused and vigilant for such fraudulent appeals. These are tactics that black hats use to provoke the user into taking hasty steps.
Package QR Scams
In this type of scam, scammers send unexpected packages that contain products from online sellers such as Amazon and Flipkart to manipulate the receivers. These packages are allegedly sent to the victims without their being ordered. Now, since one doesn’t accept them or pay for them and they are fetched in your name, the delivery man asks you to provide some information to help the package return to the store. They show you or ask you to scan a QR barcode and fill out some necessary information on the resulting pages. It is a social engineering method scammers use to get your details and promote their illegitimate acts.
If you ever come across such a situation, make sure to avoid it and do not reveal any sensitive data to anyone. If you are using any shopping app that sends you a package, you can check the order tracker to see whether it has been issued or not. Even when you scan these QR codes, they show URLs with misspellings or slightly different addresses. Hence, beware of such attacks and secure your information and privacy from malicious actors.
Social Media Scams
There are various incidents in which black hats hack social media accounts to distribute malicious barcodes. In such incidents, they target naive users with enticing messages and appealing lines that provoke the reader to take immediate action. The appealing line could be “You have been tagged in a post” or “Is this You.” When you see such statements, you become excited about knowing what they are all about and what you are doing in this post. To know more you click the provided link or scan the barcode. As soon as you do this, you end up compromising precious data and losing your hard-earned money. So, when you see such enticing statements, you must be cautious and practice moving along safely. Try to ignore such links, and don’t become curious about any enticing statement. It is a trap laid to steal your data and compromise your key accounts.
Cryptocurrency QR Code Scams
These scams are financially damaging as victims involved in such scams face significant losses. Scammers use different methods to manipulate individuals, typically getting them to pay fines or invest in cryptocurrency. To complete this process victims receive QR codes that facilitate them to pay or invest in the cryptocurrency. But when they pay or invest the money using these so-called barcodes, they lose it to the coffers of swindlers. Once they have done it, it is impossible to reverse the process and retrieve the money from your accounts. So, individuals need to exercise caution when getting such calls from strangers.
Malicious QR Scanning Apps
Scammers build fake scanning apps to download malware into a user’s device. If you download and run these on your device, they install various types of malicious programs, such as spyware, trojans, and viruses, that steal your important data. So, to avoid this situation, you should only use built-in camera apps on your device. Even if you need to download a scanning app on your internet device, it is highly essential you use authentic platforms like Google Play to get your app. These platforms offer authentic programs and software that provide you with genuine services and tools to meet your software needs. Using such authentic software will safeguard you from lots of problems down the line.
What to Do If You Scanned an Illegitimate QR Code?
With so many baits and traps laid in sneaky places, someday, it takes a toll on us. We end up scanning a fake or malicious barcode that is ridden with malware and complex virus programs. So the question arises if we, by mistake, stumble on the baits laid in our ways to mitigate the potential risks and losses. The following writing will tell you how to deal with the situation and overcome the situation before we pay heavy tolls for it. Here are some tips to deal with the following conditions when you scan an illegitimate barcode:
Change Passwords
First things first, change all the important passwords for your critical accounts and set new and more robust passwords for each account. Do not use the same passwords to protect different accounts. Instead, create unique and strong passwords for each account using a combination of numbers, letters, and special symbols. Along with this, activate two-factor authentication security features on each account to add multi-level protection on each account.
Report the Incident
Notify your bank, credit card company, or other institutes about the potential scam lurking around you. You can make them aware that you have gone through an incident that may compromise your details and credentials for the relevant account. This act will set up new security measures on your critical accounts to block malicious activities in your account.
Stay Alert About Your Identity
Staying alert and proactive is paramount to detecting and protecting potential fraudulent activities. You have to practice safety measures such as avoiding entering sensitive information into a fake QR code, checking credit card statements from time to time, and examining the notifications or emails that mention failed logins and unfamiliar transactions. Suppose you stop receiving important emails such as important statements, bills, and other correspondence. In that case, you must find out why it is happening and whether someone has changed your email address to intercept the information and exploit it to promote personal gains.
Activate Fraud Alerts
Activate fraud alerts services on your major credit bureaus to protect your identity and financial credentials. It will notify you of suspicious activities around your account and provide you options to verify whether it is you or someone else who is trying to access your account. It helps you control the access and operation of your accounts in real-time. As soon as you get an alert from anyone, make sure to take immediate action to address the situation and mitigate the underlying risks.
Use Antivirus Software
Using antivirus software services will provide comprehensive protection and peace of mind against scams and phishing threats. It will monitor your personal data, online accounts, and suspicious activities for early detection of potential security breaches. It will block and remove malware threats from your devices and provide you with a hassle-free browsing experience. Beyond this, you will get complete identity theft protection, dark web monitoring, network security, and phishing protection. Utilizing this service, you will get complete peace of mind from frauds, scams, data breaches, and account hacking.
Disconnect Network Connection
Disconnection from a network connection will prevent the malware infection from spreading further to other parts of your device and running its activities. As a result, it will prevent data leakage and protect sensitive information from remote servers that hackers control. Most importantly, it will secure your online accounts against communicating the information to outsiders. It will mitigate the risks of financial losses and compromise the confidential data stored on your device. When the internet connection is cut, you will be able to focus on remediation efforts, such as removing the viruses from the system. To do so, you can run a deep system scan using your antivirus software to hunt down the deep-seated malicious programs in the device.
