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  • Geebo 8:00 am on October 6, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , qr codes, quishing,   

    New QR code scam could show up in your inbox 

    New QR code scam could show up in your inbox

    By Greg Collier

    First, there was phishing, the emails from scammers that tried to get you to click on malicious links. Then there was smishing where scammers tried to get you to click on malicious links in SMS/text messages. Now, there is a new scam called ‘quishing’, which involves QR codes.

    QR codes are similar to the bar codes that get scanned at the supermarket. Except, in the case of QR codes, they direct you to a website. They’re essentially fancy links. When you scan a QR code with your phone’s camera, a URL will pop up for you to click on. While QR codes are used in many industries, their most common use is for advertising. You might see an ad that contains a QR code that will direct you to a sale on a retail site, for example.

    Scammers are now said to be sending emails containing QR codes. The scam emails are made to look like they’re being sent from well-known brands and companies. The email will ask the recipient to scan the QR code to receive some kind of discount or special offer. What actually happens when the code is scanned, the victim is taken to a website that infects their device with malware. From there, the scammers can potentially access any app you may have on your phone. The QR code could also take you to a website that’s cloned from the brand the scammers are imitating, where a victim will be asked for personal or financial information.

    After scanning a QR code, take a close look at the URL or web address it leads to. Be cautious if it appears to be misspelled, overly complex, or has a suspicious domain.

    If you happen to scan a fraudulent QR code, it’s crucial to promptly update your passwords for any affected accounts to prevent unauthorized access by scammers. Additionally, take immediate measures to enhance the security of your financial accounts. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on these accounts is another effective way to bolster their protection against unauthorized access.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on March 4, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , qr codes, ,   

    Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Good Samaritan scam, and more 

    Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Good Samaritan scam, and more

    By Greg Collier

    Once again, we’re bringing you a trio of scams we’ve discussed before, but now have a slight new angle to them.

    ***

    The last time we mentioned QR codes, they were being used in a parking scam in Texas. Now, the Attorney General of North Carolina is warning about QR code scams in the Tarheel State. Many businesses are using QR codes for customers to scan to see things like menus on the customer’s phone. This helps cut down on potentially coming in contact with COVID-19. The NC Attorney general is saying scammers are replacing QR codes used by businesses with stickers of the scammer’s QR code. These scam codes can take you to malicious websites that will either ask you for personal information or inject spyware on to your device which could compromise any of your online accounts. Before scanning a QR code in public, make sure the code has not been tampered with and do not download any software the QR code may instruct you to do.

    ***

    Speaking of North Carolina, for our next story we go to Charlotte where a man was scammed out of $4000 for just trying to be a good person. The man lent his phone to another man who said he needed to use the phone for an emergency. The other man made a call then said he needed to text his sister since the connection was bad. What the other man was really doing was accessing the man’s Venmo app and sending $4000 to himself. The victim didn’t realize his money was gone until two days later. If you use any payment app like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal, among others, there are security measures you can enable to prevent this from happen. You can enable a PIN to keep strangers out of these apps if they happen to access your phone. You can also use a fingerprint lock for devices that are equipped with a fingerprint scanner. It might be a slight inconvenience, but it will help keep thieves out of your financial accounts. And as an additional precaution, you really shouldn’t keep thousands of dollars in apps like Venmo.

    ***

    If you’re in college or even went to college, you may have imbibed in illicit indulgences. Even though it’s legal in many places now, if you engaged in that activity, running into campus police was always one of your biggest fears. In New Mexico, the substance in question is legal, if you’re older than 21. In college, age restrictions usually don’t stop those who are under the legal age limit from partaking. Now, scammers are looking to take advantage of that fear. They’re posing as the New Mexico State University Campus Police and threatening their victims by telling them that the victim is being investigated for a narcotic crime. The scammers are threatening students with arrest if they don’t comply with giving the scammer their personal information. Like any other police impersonation scam, real police will not threaten someone with arrest over the phone. If you receive one of these calls, it is recommended you hang up and call the actual police at the non-emergency number.

    ***

    As we like to tell our readers, even though these scams are not currently happening in your area, now you’re prepared if they do.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 31, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , qr codes,   

    Are more scammers asking for Bitcoin? 

    By Greg Collier

    Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned consumers they’ve seen a rise in scammers using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Traditionally, scammers usually lean toward trying to collect money from their victims through means like gift cards and money transfers. That’s because gift cards and money transfers are things that most people understand. Meanwhile, if you say cryptocurrency to most consumers, you’ll get a puzzled look. However, the FTC says that scammers have come up with a new and easy way to get victims to pay in cryptocurrency.

    According to the FTC, scammers are now getting their victims to scan QR Codes with their phones. Once a victim scams the QR Code with their phone, the victim just paid the scammer in cryptocurrency. Fortunately, there’s a process that needs to take place before scanning the code that should tip you off that you’re being scammed. The FTC warning states that the scammers will try to get you to go to a Bitcoin ATM, to scan the code. In other instances, the scammers will try to get you to move money out of your bank before getting you to scan the code.

    For example, a man from Athens, Georgia, was recently taken for $45,000 in a tech support scam. A computer pop-up told him his computer had been infected with a virus, and he needed to call Microsoft at a number listed on the pop-up. The scammers told him his computer and phone had been compromised, and he needed to move his money to a cryptocurrency account to protect it. After he moved his money, the scammers gave him a QR code to scan. Once the victim did that, his money was gone, having been transferred to the scammer.

    In most consumer cases, cryptocurrency should be treated just like gift cards. The vast majority of businesses and agencies do not ask for payment in Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. While cryptocurrency is not untraceable, it is extremely difficult to get back once it’s been sent from one crypto wallet to another. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are still only used in niche circles, despite what its more vocal proponents will tell you.

    So, if someone contacts you and asks for payment in Bitcoin, it’s more than likely a scam.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on January 11, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , apartment fire, , Bronx, , , , , , qr codes, san antonio, ,   

    Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Bitcoin, and More 

    Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Bitcoin, and More

    By Greg Collier

    It’s time once again to bring you three scams from around the country you should be aware of.

    ***

    Major cities in Texas like Houston, Austin, and San Antonio have reported a scam involving QR codes and parking. For those who may not know, QR codes are those square codes you sometimes see. If you point your phone’s camera at a QR code, it will take you to a website where you would normally be provided with additional information. In Texas’ case, scammers around these cities are placing QR codes around city-owned parking spaces. Once you scan the code, you’re asked to pay to use the parking spot. However, the money is going to scammers instead of the city. Along with your payment, the scammers now have your payment information as well. If you have fallen to this scam, you’re asked to file a police report and contact your payment issuer.

    ***

    Cryptocurrency scams continue to find victims across the country. Recently, a North Carolina man lost $15,000 to one of these scams. He was contacted through social media to invest in a cryptocurrency company who claimed that profits were 100% guaranteed. Supposedly, the man’s initial investment grew to $95,000; however, he would need to pay another $14,000 to get his windfall. This is a new crypto-flavored twist on the advance fee scam. For example, when a scammer tries to tell you that you’ve won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes, but you need to pay a fee to claim your winnings. Please keep in mind that the crypto market is filled with scammers, and no investment, not even cryptocurrency, can guarantee you a return on your investment.

    ***

    Lastly, we have to talk about charity scams again. We’re sure most of our readers have heard about the tragic apartment fire that took place in The Bronx recently. The fire has left several families displaced and many in the hospital fighting for their lives. You may feel the need to donate to a charity that would benefit these families. Be careful because scammers will use any tragedy to try to benefit themselves. The Mayor’s Office has set up a donation fund where all proceeds go to help the victims. There is also another city website where you can find additional information on how to help the victims. Don’t make a donation through a robocal. If you’re suspicious about a certain charity, you can always check with the BBB to see how legitimate they are.

    ***

    While these scams may not be happening in your area, they could be soon. Hopefully, you now have the knowledge to recognize these scams.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 10, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , DISH, , qr codes, , ,   

    Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Satellite TV, and unsubscribe scams 

    Scam Round Up: QR Codes, Satellite TV, and unsubscribe scams

    By Greg Collier

    Once again, we’ve come across a few scams that may not warrant an entire blog post to themselves, but we felt deserved your attention.

    We’ve all seen QR Codes, even though we may not know what their called. They’re the codes that retailers and other companies use that can be scanned by your phone. In some instances, they give you more information on a product or service. However, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that scammers are using QR Codes for devious purposes. These malicious QR Codes are even worse than links used in phishing emails, as the QR codes can not only lead you to malicious websites or inject malware into your device, they can also open up many payment apps. It’s recommended that you only scan QR Codes from entities you trust.

    ***

    If you subscribe to a satellite TV service like DISH, or DirecTV, you may want to be wary of any phone calls offering upgrades. If someone calls you claiming to be from your provider and asking for your address and PIN, hang up. Scammers will try to get you to pay for non-existent upgrades while saying it’s a better deal to pay now over the phone than having a technician show up. These providers will never ask you for personal information over the phone, and giving a scammer your PIN could lead to your payments being directed to them rather than your provider.

    ***

    Lastly, we have a scam that wants you to unsubscribe from a service or product, sort of. In this scam, the scammers call their victims and tell them that they must unsubscribe from a free trial or their credit card will be charged. If the victim says that they never signed up for any free trial, the scammers will say that someone else must have signed them up, and they still need to cancel. The scammers will then lead victims to a phony website where they can supposedly unsubscribe from the service they never signed up for in the first place. Of course, these websites are designed to not only steal your information, but can inject malware on to your device as well. If you receive one of these calls, it’s recommended that you contact your credit card company to make sure there are no subscription services on your account that you didn’t sign up for personally.

    ***

    And again, as we like to say, just because a scam isn’t happening in your area, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look out for it.

     

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