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As QR codes have become more integrated into marketing materials, Britons are being warned to “stay vigilant” against QR phishing schemes.<\/p>\n
A \u2018quishing\u2019 scam occurs when a fraudster replaces a valid QR code with a fake version that takes users to a spoofed site, which allows them to steal any information entered.<\/p>\n
The number of QR scams has soared this year, with more than 400 reported and 1,200 investigated by Action Fraud since 2020. City Councils such as Newcastle, Cotswold and Worcester have all issued warnings to residents over fraudsters targeting car parks in recent months.<\/p>\n
To help shoppers stay vigilant, QR code experts QRFY have highlighted five tips to avoid falling victim to the \u2018quishing\u2019 surge \u2013 especially ahead of the January sales, which may prompt further attacks.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the scams, QRFY said: \u201cMoney is already tight following the holiday period, so the last thing you need is to have a quishing scam steal the last of your savings – especially if it\u2019s a struggle to stretch December\u2019s payout until the end of January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cBut the Boxing Day and January sales are a breeding ground for scammers, hoping to deceive unsuspecting consumers who are distracted by the excitement of shopping for bargains. Stay vigilant against QR code scams in the same way that you take precaution when it comes to links and attachments, and you\u2019ll be able to protect yourself from losing your hard-earned cash.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scammers have taken advantage of businesses placing vital QR codes in public spaces, and have been plastering their versions over the original.<\/p>\n
Users are directed to a deceptively authentic-looking website where they may enter personal information, leaving themselves vulnerable to malicious malware being installed.<\/p>\n
QRFY experts said: \u201cWhether it\u2019s scanning the QR code in the car park before beginning your shopping or using the one at the restaurant to check what\u2019s on the menu, it\u2019s vital that you check the URL it directs you to. If the QR code looks like it\u2019s been tampered with \u2013 perhaps it\u2019s been stuck over with a different sticker or looks blurry while the rest of the menu looks in focus \u2013 then exercise caution.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
One of the key signs of a QR scam is that the URL it\u2019s directed to is incorrect. However, sometimes it may be hard to tell so QRFY experts advise exercising \u201cextra caution\u201d.<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cBefore every time you go to open the URL, it should be scrutinised to ensure you recognise the web address, and you should look for noticeable spelling errors or switched letters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Otherwise, the codes could lead people to a fraudulent website that could be easily mistaken for a certified retailer, with stolen logos and images selling the look on the webpage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Following the Christmas period, people may receive an influx of texts and emails that come with countless January sale orders and returns. According to QRFY experts, scammers try to exploit this by crafting fraudulent messages that request payment details for a refund or demand an address update for a missed delivery.<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cWith so many to deal with, it can be easy to accidentally fall for any that look quite \u2018authentic\u2019. Poor grammar is an immediate red flag that should arouse suspicion. You should also contact the company using a trusted phone number or email address if you aren\u2019t expecting to receive a QR code \u2013 especially if it prompts you to take immediate action.\u201d<\/p>\n
While unwinding between Christmas and New Year, it’s crucial to put in place extra measures to avoid falling victim to further prevent phishing attempts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
QRFY experts said: \u201cMulti-factor authentication can help prevent hackers from accessing your private devices and accounts even if they have managed to steal your passwords.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt requires you to confirm your details via a second route \u2013 such as a texted code or back-up email address \u2013 which the hackers won\u2019t have access to. Likewise, having a strong password in the first place can make it more difficult for scammers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given the popularity of using QR codes, it\u2019s no surprise that there are now QR code scanning apps available. However, since iOS and Android devices\u2019 camera apps already automatically scan QR codes, QRFY experts said using a specific app \u201cisn\u2019t necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n
They added: \u201cIf you are set on downloading one, check – and then check again \u2013 that it is from a reputable and trustworthy source, otherwise your sales shopping could be cut short.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[ad_2]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[ad_1] As QR codes have become more integrated into marketing materials, Britons are being warned to “stay vigilant” against QR phishing schemes. A \u2018quishing\u2019 scam occurs when a fraudster replaces a valid QR code with a fake version that takes users to a spoofed site, which allows them to steal any information entered. The number …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17137"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17137\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}