(Investigation on TV) – ““Quishing” attacks increased tenfold between 2021 and 2024according to the security company Exit.

Experienced said that quishing is when bad actors steal money, personal information or sensitive data and infect devices by distributing modified QR codes intended to imitate legitimate businesses.

Identity Theft Resource Center Chief Operating Officer James Lee said he wanted to warn consumers about this new scam.

“We know about phishing and smishing, and now we have quishing,” Lee said. “That’s where a QR code is used, you use a QR code to compromise your information.”

Lee said he has received reports of scams in three states, but he knows it will grow.

“It’s really easy to come in if you’re a bad guy, go in there, put a fake QR code on that parking meter, hide the real one, and the money goes to you instead of the city,” Lee explained. . “And then you get a parking ticket. This is how you find out it happened when you get the parking ticket.

Lee shared several tips for consumers to protect themselves from quishing scams:

• Before opening a QR code, make sure there are no additional layers of stickers on the code.
• In restaurants or stores, ask the server to verify a code before using it.
• In parking lots, make sure the code directs you to a legitimate parking company website before sending payment.

Lee also said businesses should watch out for bad actors using their QR codes to deceive customers.

“It’s not just the responsibility of the person who is going to park there to check and make sure it’s real,” he stressed. “Whoever comes up with the QR code, they need to do their due diligence. »

THE Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers additional tips for avoiding the scam:

• Beware of QR codes in unexpected places and inspect the URL before opening it.
• Don’t scan a QR code from an unexpected email or text message, especially if it prompts quick action.
• Protect phones from hackers by updating online accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

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