In the past few years, QR codes have become essential for businesses. They’re those square codes you can scan with your phone. But because they’ve become so popular, some bad people use them to trick others, making QR code scams more common.
If you look around these days, whether you go to a hotel or check your bank app, you will probably see a QR code everywhere. The exciting thing is that you might have used it yourself.
The problem is that when you scan a QR code, you don’t always know what it will do, and most QR codes look the same. So, you must be careful because falling for one of these scams is easy.
These days, some unusual hacking tricks can easily compromise your security, such as the GoldDigger Android trojan that can empty your bank account or password-protected WinRAR files that can be used as a trap for malware. It’s essential to be cautious in every way because, in today’s age, anything is possible; even your WhatsApp calls are not entirely safe and can be susceptible to hacking.
Are QR codes safe to scan on a phone? How can you prevent being duped by a manipulated QR code? And what should you do if you have scanned a fake one? Do QR codes Steal your information?
How To Check if a QR code is safe
If you’re scanning a QR code at a regular store, like when you’re shopping or buying a drink, it’s usually safe. But scanning a QR code on a sketchy website, getting an app from an untrustworthy place, or using a coupon from a random site might not be safe.
Scanning an unsafe QR code online could harm your device. It might put horrible software on your phone, steal your internet information, take money from your bank, or even do more harmful things. That’s why you should avoid scanning an unsafe QR code app.
What if I fell for a scammer trap? What should I do if I scan a fake QR code online?
What should I do if I scan a fake QR code online?
Since QR codes can easily be made to look like real ones, it’s easy to scan a fake one made by scammers accidentally. If you think you might have scanned a fake QR code, there are some things you can do to lower the chance of losing money or giving away your private information.
1. Turn off the internet on your Device Android:
If you think you’ve scanned a fake QR code scanner, the first thing to do is disconnect your device from the internet. Scammers often use manipulated QR codes to break into people’s devices.
If the code you scanned did the same, the scammer might have access to your device, which could put your info in danger.
By cutting off your device from the internet, you can stop the scammer from doing anything more. You can also check your Windows device to see if there are signs of hacking manually.
2. Change Your Passwords
If you think scammers might have been on your device for a while, the first thing to do is change all your passwords. This includes the ones saved in your web browsers, password managers, and apps.
By doing this, even if scammers get hold of essential passwords, like those for your bank or social media, they won’t be able to use them to get into your accounts.
While you’re changing passwords, make sure to log out from all your devices. This way, you can be sure that scammers haven’t already signed into your accounts.
3. Minimize the Risk of Financial Loss
If you’ve saved your credit card details in your web browser, blocking your credit cards is a good idea. If the QR code made weird transactions on your card, contact your credit card company or bank immediately to get your money back. Also, change any financial or personal info stored in your browser that scammers could mess with.
If a QR code took more money from your account than it should have, contact the company involved to sort out a refund.
4. Scan Your Device for Viruses
The next step is to use a good antivirus program to scan your device. If the QR code causes any problems, a reliable antivirus program can probably fix it. If you’re using a Windows device, you can use Microsoft Defender, built into Windows, to check for destructive software.
If the QR code downloaded anything onto your computer, remove it immediately. If something goes wrong with one of your apps, uninstall and install it again.
5. Check Your Browser for Suspicious Changes
Scammers sometimes try to take control of your web browser to spy on what you do online. So, it’s essential to check for signs of this. If your browser seems like it’s been messed with, you need to act fast to remove the bad stuff and clean it up.
Also, if the QR code takes you to a different place than it should or doesn’t lead to the official website, just close that page and don’t return to it.
6. Check for Unusual Changes in Device Settings
Finally, it’s a good idea to go through all the essential settings on your device, especially the ones about privacy, to ensure nothing strange has been done. If you scanned the QR code in an app, like your web browser, look at its settings to see if scammers messed with them.
How to Spot Fake QR Code Scams
Your intuition and common sense are your best tools for distinguishing suspicious QR codes from legitimate ones. Trust your intuitions to avoid scams.
If the place where you found the QR code seems untrustworthy, it’s better not to scan it. Stick to QR codes from sources you know you can trust.
You don’t need anything fancy to scan a QR code—your smartphone’s camera is usually enough. Avoid using third-party QR code scanning apps because they might have been messed with and become tools for bad stuff. Also, be careful with QR codes that seem to change constantly.
If a website or app offers different ways to do the same thing as scanning a QR code, it’s better to choose one of those alternatives. Most places online give you more than one option to get things done. If you have no choice but to use a QR code, and the source doesn’t seem trustworthy, be extra cautious. It might be a trick set up by scammers.
Lastly, keep your security software up to date all the time. This will help protect your device from getting infected or hacked if you accidentally scan a fake QR code.
Save Yourself From QR Code Scams
In a 2022 survey conducted by Ivanti, 83% of those surveyed mentioned that they had used a QR code for a financial transaction in the last three months. Surprisingly, only 47% knew that scanning a QR code could open a URL, and merely 37% were aware that it could download an application.
The survey also unveiled that 1 in every 5 respondents had scanned a QR code, leading them to a harmful website. This indicates that many people are potentially putting themselves at risk of being hacked through these malicious QR codes.
Regrettably, there isn’t specific data regarding the exact count of people who have fallen victim to hacking via QR codes. However, the increasing use of QR codes and the rising number of malicious QR codes strongly suggest that the number of potential victims is significant.
QR code scams are a big deal, and avoiding falling for them is crucial. Being able to tell fake QR codes from real ones is your shield against trouble.
If you accidentally scan a fake QR code, you’ve got a plan to safeguard your money and personal info. Sticking to the advice above can lower the chances of bad things happening due to QR code problems.
Lastly, look out for yourself and teach your family, especially older folks, about QR code scams so they can also protect themselves.