Fraudsters beat: 159,000 euros lost through QR code scams!

Fraudsters beat: 159,000 euros lost through QR code scams!

In the past few weeks, tricks on the Internet are again making headlines that test the trust of consumers. An incident in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in which two people lost a total of 159,000 euros, has a serious warning. How tagesschau.de fell in a fake letter Bank in. It was advised to scan a QR code to update her TAN device, which ultimately led to a significant loss of her savings of 65,000 euros.

The fraudster, who spent a bank employee, skilfully took advantage of the woman's fear of a hacker attack on her account. Leaf in front of the mouth: once scanned, their sensitive data got into the hands of the crooks. A 63-year-old man was also the victim of a similar crime: he was lured into the trap by a fraud in connection with cryptocurrencies. After the transfer of a "registration amount" of 250 euros, followed by further payments to foreign accounts, the supposed profit was a air number. Only when his bank asked about the legality of the transactions did he notice the fraud.

QR code fraud in the upswing

What is behind this fraud? The perpetrators often rely on QR codes that have become rapidly popular in recent years. According to lifelock , almost 27 million QR codes were scanned in Germany alone, and the use will probably increase by 22 % by 2025. QR codes offer a convenient way to share information, but also cover significant risks. Fraudsters use fake codes to guide users on harmful websites or steal data - a procedure known as "quishing".

If you reduce the view of the most common methods that fraudsters use on the go, you can see that they place QR codes in places where many people scan them, e.g. in restaurants, cafes or even posters in public space. The resulting dangers should not be underestimated: from financial losses to identity theft to the installation of malware on the devices of unsuspecting users.

How can you protect yourself?

But how can this fraud stitch be encountered? Consumers: Inside, it is advised to always be vigilant when scanning QR codes. Consumer center Lower Saxony advises to check urls before clicking and respecting manipulation To question urgency in the news. Above all, the context in which a code is presented should be considered closely.