Security News > 2023 > May > QR codes used in fake parking tickets, surveys to steal your money
As QR codes continue to be heavily used by legitimate organizations-from Super Bowl advertisements to enforcing parking fees and fines, scammers have crept in to abuse the very technology for their nefarious purposes.
A woman in Singapore reportedly lost $20,000 after using a QR code to fill out a "Survey" at a bubble tea shop, whereas cases of fake car parking citations with QR codes targeting drivers have been observed in the U.S. and the U.K. Striking while you're asleep.
"Besides website pop-up banners, which are most common, pasting bogus QR codes outside F&B establishments is another cunning way to hook victims as consumers may not be able to differentiate between legitimate and malicious QR codes."
"Second time we've seen this. Last time it was malicious QR codes on parking meters in Texas," wrote journalist Kim Zetter, referring to the particular scam.
"This time thieves in San Fran are leaving fake parking tickets on cars w/ malicious QR codes that, when scanned, take mobile phones to a fake web site to pay fine."
The council has since taken steps to check parking meters for any fraudulent QR placed around them and states that its machines do not currently offer payments via QR codes.