QR code fraud on the rise in Greater Manchester as officers give out crime prevention advice

Last week in Greater Manchester, three reports were recorded in relation to QR code fraud and officers from GMP’s Economic Crime Team are out in communities across Greater Manchester daily giving out fraud prevention advice.

QR (quick response) codes work when a user scans them on a digital device, this is most commonly smartphones and the QR codes are used to direct people to websites, logging into devices or ordering food and drinks. QR codes are a quick and easy way to get to a website quickly.

After the pandemic, there has been a steep rise in the use of QR codes. Cyber criminals also use this technology as a new way to defraud people out of money.

QR code fraud is more likely to happen in open spaces, such as car parks or parking meters. With this type of scam, fraudsters will put a fake QR code sticker over a real QR code on a parking meter and the fake QR code will take users to a genuine looking payment site to steal personal information and in some instances financial information.

How to keep yourself safe from QR fraud?

• When scanning QR codes in public spaces, check for tampered QR code stickers. If something doesn’t look right and the sticker looks out of place, type in the URL manually to ensure you are getting to the correct website.
• When you are scanning a QR code, make sure that you are using the QR scanner that comes with your phone, rather than using an app that’s downloaded on an app store.
• Preview the URL, on some latest updates on mobile phones, as you start to scan the QR code, a URL will come up – if this URL code doesn’t look right, stop scanning.

If you feel as though you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, report to Action fraud by calling 0300 123 2040.

For more fraud prevention advice visit GMP’s crime prevention webpage on Advice about fraud | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk).