A concerning new trend involving QR codes is putting smartphone users at risk of falling victim to hackers and losing money. Dubbed “quishing,” this method is on the rise, according to a warning issued by Action Fraud, resulting in significant financial losses annually.
Criminals are increasingly targeting individuals in car parks by using fake stickers to manipulate authentic QR codes on parking machines. Additionally, quishing is occurring through online shopping platforms, where scammers send sellers QR codes via email under the guise of verifying accounts or processing payments for sold goods.
Acting Director of Action Fraud, Claire Webb, emphasized the prevalence of QR codes in daily life and the growing use of quishing by cybercriminals to deceive people into divulging personal and financial information. To combat this threat, Action Fraud advises individuals to exercise caution when scanning QR codes, especially in public spaces, and to scrutinize emails and texts containing QR codes for any signs of tampering.
In response to the alert, Action Fraud has recommended refraining from using QR code scanning apps from app stores and instead utilizing the built-in QR scanner on mobile devices. Additional safety measures include being vigilant when encountering QR codes in emails and ensuring codes are authentic before scanning them in public areas.
While QR codes offer convenience, it is crucial to exercise vigilance and verify the authenticity of codes before scanning them on smartphones to prevent falling victim to potential scams.
