This week, the Malaga Provincial Police Station has warned of a new scam that is being carried out with QR codes to steal users’ personal and / or banking data . The authorities appeal to the entire population to be alert and take all possible prevention and protection measures to avoid being victims of this type of fraud.
On the occasion of the Covid-19 pandemic, many establishments have launched QR codes so that users can access information : the menu in restaurants, the price in gyms …
The QR code is a module that stores information in a dot matrix , which is scanned on the mobile phone to access the information.
Well, some criminals have taken advantage of this technology to use it criminally and get the personal and / or banking data of the victims .
How to avoid falling victim to a QR code scam?
According to the authorities, it is essential not to click on unknown links received via email or SMS . On more than one occasion we have talked about phishing campaigns, in which hackers send fraudulent links to users so that, when they click on them, their data is exposed.
In the case of QR codes, it is advisable to configure the application that scans them so that it does not automatically redirect to the content they point to or the page . There are reader apps that allow you to view the link before accessing it.
And finally, it is important to avoid scanning the QR codes that are stuck on street lamps or facades on the street and, above all, those that announce raffles, offers or gifts.
