Curated By: Business Desk
Last Updated: September 15, 2023, 18:40 IST
Through fake QR codes, scammers take you to phishing websites.
Before scanning QR codes at any shop or restaurant, pay close attention to the shape of the code.
In today’s modern era, contactless and digital payments have become the new norm. People now are more keen on going cashless. Hence, they have started using mobile payment applications like Google Pay, Phone Pe and Paytm, among others. With this feature, consumers are able to send and receive money by merely tapping their cell phones. The other option is to use the Quick Response or QR codes for scanning and transfer the required sum of money to the receiver’s bank account. However, with the surge in digital transactions, a rise in fake QR codes has also been emerging, with many fraud cases coming to the fore.
If you happen to scan a fake QR code then you might get riddled with many problems. Scammers can take you to phishing websites where your personal data might be stolen. In fact, if you provide information like your name, contact numbers, address and bank details, chances are that the imposters might steal your identity. Additionally, malicious software like trojans, malware and ransomware can be downloaded onto your device using fake QR codes. These viruses have the ability to spy on you and steal private data. But here’s how you can identify fake QR codes with ease.
Before scanning QR codes at any shop or restaurant, pay close attention to the shape of the code. If you feel that the shape is distorted or the code is pasted onto something, avoid paying on the QR code and instead opt for paying in cash. Chances are high that the specific QR code might be fake.
Check the name of the merchant or the shop whenever you pay by scanning a QR code. Ask the shopkeeper under what name the money will be transferred and continue the payment only if the same name is displayed on your mobile screen. Be wary if the name of the shop or the vendor does not match.
Never scan any QR code that you receive on your email IDs or through junk mail. If you scan the QR code and enter the UPI pin, your bank account might get compromised.
