STOP AND THINK BEFORE SCANNING QR CODES!
Scammers hide harmful links in QR Codes with the intent of stealing your personal information. A scammer’s QR code could take you to a spoofed site that appears to be real but is actually fraudulent. Logging in to the spoofed site could be an opportunity for scammers could steal any information you enter. A spoofed QR code could install malware that steals your information on your device before you realize it.
Follow these tips to protect yourself:
- Inspect all QR Codes before you click open them. If it looks like a URL you recognize, make sure it’s not spoofed — look for misspellings or a switched letter.
- Don’t scan a QR code in an email or text message you weren’t expecting — especially if it urges you to act immediately. If you think the message is legitimate, use a phone number or website you know is real to contact the company.
- Protect your phone and accounts. Update your phone's operating systems to protect against hackers and protect your online accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.