North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has issued a warning regarding QR code scams. It seems like QR codes are everywhere these days from menus at restaurants, maps, and info at museums and parks, Super Bowl Commercials, and heck we even use them for contests. Which makes them a prime target for cybercriminals.
QR codes are simple to use, you just take out your smartphone, open your camera and scan the square barcode which will bring up the link to whatever info you are searching for. But you need to make sure that link is safe before you take out your phone. Scammers will use the codes to direct you to malicious websites that could contain viruses or attempt to steal your information.
According to a press release from the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, this is what you can do to protect yourself from QR Code Scams:
- 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 our your personal or 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.
If you believe you may have been the victim of a QR code scam, contact our office at 877-5-NO-SCAM or file a complaint online at https://ncdoj.gov/complaint.
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