FBI: Cybercriminals are using QR codes to steal your info. Here are tips to protect yourself.
The FBI is warning consumers about QR codes. Here's how you can protect yourself.
News 12 Staff
•
Jan 27, 2022, 12:52 PM
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Updated 735 days ago
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2ds agoThe FBI is warning consumers about QR codes.
They say cybercriminals are using maliciously crafted QR
codes to steal your information.
A QR code is a square barcode that a smartphone camera can
scan and read to provide quick access to a website, to prompt the download of
an application, and to direct payment to an intended recipient. Businesses use
QR codes legitimately to provide convenient contactless access and have used
them more frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, cybercriminals are taking advantage of this
technology by directing QR code scans to malicious sites to steal data,
embedding malware to gain access to the victim's device, and redirecting
payment for cybercriminal use, the FBI says.
Below are some tips to protect yourself:
1. Once you scan a QR code, check the URL to make sure it is
the intended site and looks authentic. A malicious domain name may be similar
to the intended URL but with typos or a misplaced letter.
2. Practice caution when entering login, personal, or
financial information from a site navigated to from a QR code.
3. If scanning a physical QR code, ensure the code has not
been tampered with, such as with a sticker placed on top of the original code.
4. Do not download an app from a QR code. Use your phone's
app store for a safer download.
5. If you receive an email stating a payment failed from a
company you recently made a purchase with and the company states you can only
complete the payment through a QR code, call the company to verify. Locate the
company's phone number through a trusted site rather than a number provided in
the email.
6. Do not download a QR code scanner app. This increases
your risk of downloading malware onto your device. Most phones have a built-in
scanner through the camera app.
7. If you receive a QR code that you believe to be from
someone you know, reach out to them through a known number or address to verify
that the code is from them.
8. Avoid making payments through a site navigated to from a
QR code. Instead, manually enter a known and trusted URL to complete the
payment.
9. If you believe you have been a victim of stolen funds
from a tampered QR code, report the fraud to your local FBI field office.
