Organised gangs behind rise in QR 'quishing' scams

a year ago

QR code scams, known as 'quishing', have increased 14-fold in five years.
Organized crime gangs are behind the rise in fraudulent QR code scams.
Action Fraud reported 1,386 cases in 2023, up from 100 in 2019.
Common targets include parking meters and restaurant menus where fake QR codes are placed.
Victims are tricked into providing bank details after scanning fraudulent codes.
Small initial losses often lead to larger secondary scams.
Authorities struggle with under-reporting and global enforcement challenges.
National Car Parks is considering removing QR codes from signage to prevent scams.
Experts advise vigilance and checking for signs of tampering before scanning QR codes.

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