NC's attorney general warns of QR code scam
Attorney General Josh Stein is cautioning North Carolinians to watch out for QR code scams.
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Attorney General Josh Stein is cautioning North Carolinians to watch out for QR code scams.
QR codes, which when scanned with a smart phone camera connect users to links and other information, became more popular during the pandemic. For example, to reduce the number of surfaces touched, many restaurants used QR codes to take patrons to their online menus instead of handing out physical menus.
However, Stein warms scammers are using the codes to target others, sending users to malicious websites designed to steal information.
Usually, a business's QR code is replaced with a fraudulent code, and the bad website could steal a victim’s data, install malware or ask for a payment that goes to the scammer or the business.
Officials recommend the following:
- After you scan a QR code, check the URL to make sure it looks authentic. Watch out for misspellings or domain names that don’t match the business. Never give out your personal information unless you’re sure of a website’s authenticity.
- Make sure the QR code hasn’t been tampered with. In many cases, criminals will use a sticker to put their malicious code on top of the business’ code.
- Never download an app or software from a QR code.
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