QR code scam

Have you seen a small rectangular box filled with black designs in newspapers, movie tickets and shopping places(Paytm, PhonePe, UPI)? This is a QR code. Chances are you have seen it, and are totally comfortable interacting with it(maybe making payments or adding contacts) or you have kept your interaction with it to a bare minimum level.

As we all know, the payment industry has undergone a sea of changes. First there was cash which was followed by credit and debit cards and now it is digital wallets and QR code payments along with many other improvisations everyday.

What is a QR code?

A QR code is a ‘Quick Response’ code and it can be used for many purposes. It stores a small amount of data that can be accessed by a QR code scanner(available from Google Play store and Apple App store) The QR code can be used to store a text, URL, phone number, geolocation, visiting card among other things. If a user scans the QR code, he/she can visit the website stored, store the contact information in the QR code onto their own device, automatically connect to WiFi, make a payment and more –

Paytm pioneered the QR code payments in India which was followed by Google Pay and Phone Pe.

There are plenty of apps to create your own QR codes and scan them too.

QR code scam:

Technology has its way and grows by leaps and bounds everyday. The same can be said with fraudsters too. They keep changing their tactics along with new technological innovations.

Once the QR code became ubiquitous all around us and we barely had time to understand it, and its workings, scamsters have already perfected the art of duping you with it.

In a recent report from India’s newspaper, it was stated that QR code scams are on the rise in Bengaluru( Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/qr-code-scams-are-on-the-rise-in-city/article30239619.ece )

How?

More often, than not, victims are asked to scan a QR code and bam! your money vanishes from your bank account!!

While we are still getting used to scanning a QR code without understanding its full significance, money is already vanishing from your account once scanned. Most security sleuths are still figuring out how money is being withdrawn just by scanning a QR code. A malware might just have been embedded into the code is a possible thought among security researchers.

So, how do we avoid it?

1. Do not scan QR codes from unknown people
2. Trust only QR codes from reliable sources like Paytm, The Hindu etc
3. Do not part with your OTP, credit/debit card number, PIN, expiry date and more
4. Always, keep tabs on your bank account details when dealing with any technology that is little understood by you!

Now, try scanning my QR code and see what happens…I promise it would not do anything harmful or dangerous! 🙂

P.S: You can download a QR code scanner from the Playstore.

Download and try scanning me! 🙂

Note: You can also create your own QR codes from these sites(at your own risk! :))

1. https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/
2. http://goqr.me/
3. https://www.qrstuff.com/

Have fun and be safe! 🙂