CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses added QR codes to help customers access their information and services in a contact-less world, but now North Carolina officials are warning people not to scan every code they see.
Attorney General Josh Stein says his office received a report from federal officials about criminals using QR codes to redirect victims to malicious websites designed to steal their personal information. In this scam, a business' QR code is replaced with a fraudulent code that steals your data, installs malware on your device or asks for a payment that actually goes to the scammer.
"Like all popular technology, scammers have looked to take advantage of QR codes to scam others," Stein said in a press release.
The North Carolina Attorney General's Office says these three tips can help protect you from QR code scams:
- After you scan a QR code, check the URL to make sure it looks authentic. Watch for misspellings or domain names that don't match the business. Never give anyone you personal information unless you're sure about 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 over a legit code.
- Never download an app or software from a QR code.
People who believe they have been a victim of a QR code scam can call Stein's office at 877-5-NO-SCAM or file a complaint online.
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