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Warnings issued about increase in QR code scams known as ‘Qushing’
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Warnings issued about increase in QR code scams known as ‘Qushing’

(İnceleTV) — “Quishing attacks increased 10x between 2021 and 2024According to the security company Exit.

Experian Said it was quishing Bad actors steal money, personal information, or sensitive data and infect devices by distributing modified QR codes to impersonate legitimate companies.

Identity Theft Resource Center Chief Operating Officer James Lee said he wanted to warn consumers about the new scams.

“We know about phishing and smishing, and now we can eliminate it,” Lee said. “This is where the QR code is used; you use a QR code to have your information compromised.”

Lee said they have received reports of the scams being stopped in three states, but he knows it will grow.

“It’s really easy if you’re a bad guy to go there, put a fake QR code on the parking meter, disguise the real code, and have the money go to you instead of going to the city,” Lee said. . “Then you get a parking ticket. “That’s how you know it’s happened when you get a parking ticket.”

Lee shared a few tips for consumers to protect themselves from scams:

  • Before opening a QR code, make sure there are no additional layers of labels on the code.
  • At restaurants or stores, ask the server to verify the code before using it.
  • For parking lots, make sure the code directs you to a legitimate parking company website before submitting payment.

Lee also said businesses should be wary of bad actors using QR codes to trick customers.

“It’s not just the responsibility of the person who’s going to park there to check and make sure it’s real,” he said. “Whoever presents the QR code needs to be diligent.”

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers additional tips to prevent fraud:

  • Watch out for QR codes in unexpected places and examine the URL before opening it.
  • Don’t scan the QR code in an unexpected email or text message, especially if it requires quick action.
  • Protect phones from hackers by updating online accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.