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Beware of QR Code Scams: The Hidden Trap in a Simple Scan

M E T A N O I A
3 min readDec 4, 2024
Photo by Simon Bak on Unsplash

What Are QR Codes?

You can see a QR code on any mall ad, or at a restaurant, on a poster, or at the checkout of a shop etc. All those little black and white boxes you must have noticed look like tiny puzzles. When you scan them with your phone, they redirect you to a website, app, or payment link. Very easy and convenient, right? But did you know that these simple squares can hide dangerous traps and trick you?

How Do Scammers Manipulate Using QR Codes?

QR codes provided by Scammers have found a really sneaky way of tricking people using fraudulent QR codes. They replace real codes with their own tricking codes, leading you to harmful and malicious websites. You may think you’re buying coffee or lunch, but in reality, you’re transferring your money to a scammer. Even, scanning these QR codes can sometimes extract personal information from your mobile phone. Terrifying right?

A Real-Life Story: The Café Trap

Here is Elena’s Story, a college student who loves her morning coffee. One day, she visited her favorite café. The other option was to scan the QR code that was already placed on the table for the menu. She felt it was easy to scan it, place her order, and pay online. A few minutes…

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Written by M E T A N O I A

Metanoia is a transformative change of heart that fosters personal growth and self-discovery.

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