Scammers are increasingly using QR codes and barcodes to trick customers into visiting fraudulent websites or making unauthorized payments. Sometimes, this can even involve directing customers to use fraudulent QR codes and barcodes at payment centers at major retail outlets. These scams — often called quishing — work by replacing or covering legitimate codes with counterfeit ones, then directing customers to malicious sites designed to steal personal or financial information.
QR codes appear everywhere: bills, payment kiosks, retail locations and service vehicles. While they’re convenient, customers should treat QR codes the same way they treat any unfamiliar link: verify before you scan.
How QR and barcode scams work
Scammers may:
Once scanned, the QR code may take you to a malicious website prompting you to share personal details or complete a payment. In some cases, scammers provide a phony payment routing number or ask for banking information to “verify your account”— leading to fraudulent charges.
More Info