Cybercriminals Tampering with QR Codes

28 Jan 2022 Cybercriminals Tampering with QR Codes

Authored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI issued an announcement on  Jan. 18, 2022 to raise awareness of malicious Quick Response (QR) codes. Cybercriminals are tampering with QR codes to redirect victims to malicious sites that steal login and financial information.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

• 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.
• Practice caution when entering login, personal, or financial information from a site navigated to from a QR code.
• 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.
• Do not download an app from a QR code. Use your phone’s app store for a safer download.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Avoid making payments through a site navigated to from a QR code. Instead, manually enter a known and trusted URL to complete the payment.

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. The FBI also encourages victims to report fraudulent or suspicious activities to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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