QR Code Scams: How to Check Before You Scan
Quick answer: Treat a QR code like a hidden link. Before opening it, inspect the physical code, preview the destination, check the domain for misspellings, and ask whether the request was expected. If it asks for a password or payment, open the organization’s official app or type its known website instead. A QR code can be useful, but you cannot read its destination by looking at the pattern. Scammers exploit that uncertainty by covering a genuine code, adding one to an urgent message, or sending people to a convincing copy of a real website. Common QR-code scam setups A sticker placed over the real code on a parking meter or sign. An unexpected delivery message asking you to reschedule. A fake account alert that says you must change a password immediately. A restaurant, event, or payment page with a misspelled domain. A code that leads to an app download outside the official app store. A safe scanning checklist Check What to look for Physical surface A...