QR code scams on the rise

More threat actors have been launching scams leveraging QR codes amid the technology's increasing adoption, reports Threatpost. Consumers have been warned by the Better Business Bureau to be wary of such scams. Scammers have taken interest to QR code due to the technology's simplicity, according to Malwarebytes Labs researchers. Individuals are usually targeted through emails, direct messages, text messages and flyers or mails with QR codes that redirect to malicious websites upon scanning. "The problem with QR codes stems from how easy they are to use. Point your smartphone's camera at a QR code and your phone will happily read it, convert it to a URL, and then open the URL in your browser. Very trusting," said researchers. Malwarebytes researchers noted that attacks involving scammers sending targets to gas stations to use Bitcoin ATMs have been prevalent, with victims being used as "money mules" to enable laundering of funds. QR code scams could be prevented by ensuring that public codes have not been tampered, according to Malwarebytes and the BBB.