QR codes skyrocketed in popularity during the pandemic as a great contactless option for businesses, and now they seem to be taking hold.
But experts warn they can be easily manipulated by criminals, and vigilance should be exercised when using them.
QR codes are easy to use. You can scan it with your smartphone’s camera to visit a website or get more information about anything.
Scammers can tamper with QR codes to steal your personal and financial information. In some cases, pasting a fake girlfriend’s QR code over a real girlfriend’s QR code, texting or emailing her QR code directly, or saying it’s linked to a free gift or coupon. To do. Your phone stores a lot of information that you don’t want criminals to know.
“A lot can happen with just a click,” said Steve Wiseman, who runs the website www.scamicide.com. “Malware can be downloaded onto your smartphone to steal your information. Otherwise, it can actually access your account and withdraw money. I mean, it’s pretty dangerous.”
If you use a QR code, Wiseman says there is a free app that can be installed on your phone that will identify if it is fake.. He recommended a free option by Kaspersky.
The app warns you if there is danger lurking behind a scanned QR code.
Avoid blindly scanning QR codes to protect yourself. Always review the source first, and if possible examine the code itself to see if it doesn’t appear to have been tampered with. After scanning one, look at the URL before tapping the notification to make sure it at least looks legit.
