Scanning unknown QR codes with your smartphone is becoming more common, but it is better never to do it. Beware of this danger!
Scan unknown QR codes
It is becoming increasingly common to scan QR codes with your smartphone. To do that, simply open the Camera app on your iPhone or Android phone and point the camera at the QR code. Your smartphone often automatically recognizes a link to a web page that is linked to the QR code. This is a simple way to open a website, but it now appears that scanning these codes is not without dangers.
When scanning a QR code with your smartphone, you usually do not see which website you are opening. An abbreviation of a web page often appears, which you must tap to open your browser. This is exactly where the danger lies, because scammers are increasingly using QR codes to steal data. Therefore, be careful if you want to scan a QR code, as fraud occurs regularly in this way.
Online fraud
You regularly see QR codes on the street, in restaurants and in (advertising) brochures. In most cases they lead to company web pages, for example the menu of a restaurant. However, that is not always the case, because qishing is becoming increasingly common in the Netherlands and Belgium. This term is a combination of QR code and phishing, which refers to scammers who more regularly commit fraud via QR codes.
Scammers stick these QR codes on lampposts, charging stations, advertising brochures or other busy places, so pay close attention if you just see such a code. Is there no reason to scan the QR code with your smartphone? Don’t do it, so that you can be sure that you do not unintentionally end up on a dangerous website. This is the easiest way to avoid QR code scams, because in some cases you don’t even need to pick up your phone at all.
Still scanning QR codes?
Have you come across a QR code in a reliable place, such as in a restaurant? In that case, you can point your smartphone camera at the code, then look carefully at the website that appears below the QR code. Pay attention to spelling errors and strange or abbreviated web links. Do you not completely trust the website? Then don’t take any risks and don’t click on the link to the website. Did you click through? Then check the web address in the address bar and see if it looks familiar to you.
Always be careful when sharing data online, especially if you have visited a website via an unknown QR code. Does a website immediately appear to pay for something? Or a website that needs personal information from you? Then you may be dealing with qishing and you can better close the web page. In any case, make sure that you never enter personal information or passwords, so that you can be sure that your data remains safe.
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