- Phishing using QR codes is becoming more prevalent.
- These assaults resulted in more than 1,300 casualties in 2024.
- Cybercriminals are camouflaging their QR codes to appear as regular payment options.
A fairly recent cybersecurity danger known as "Quishing," which refers to QR code phishing, has been affecting an increasing number of individuals in the UK. Last year, Action Fraud received 1,386 complaints about such incidents, marking a significant rise compared to the 100 reported cases back in 2019. BBC reports .
These are particularly common in "contactless payment zones" such as parking meters and restaurant menus, where criminals tend to overlay their own malevolent QR codes onto existing valid ones.
People who fall victim to these scams are encouraged to scan a harmful QR code with their mobile devices. They are subsequently directed to sites managed by fraudsters and are asked to provide their financial details through what appears to be a counterfeit payment page. malware is sent to their device.
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Caution is key
These fraudulent activities can be hard to identify both at the time they occur and afterward because perpetrators typically use small sums taken repeatedly. They cleverly present these transactions as seemingly normal fees like subscription services or parking costs—transactions that tend not to raise red flags and consequently may go unreported.
"QR codes were created to enhance convenience; however, malicious individuals have exploited this by skillfully generating cloned and counterfeit websites that appear legitimate after clicking," notes Jake Moore, a Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET.
QR scams frequently prove challenging to prevent because there are hardly any immediate visual cues alerting users to their fraudulent nature. Distinguishing between legitimate and malicious codes can be tough, particularly when the links generated by QR codes appear indistinguishable from expected sites like those for paying for parking.
As with all The main aspect of avoiding social engineering attacks is maintaining constant vigilance. Scan only those QR codes you're absolutely sure are secure, and never share your payment details with an unconfirmed source.
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