QR Code Scams: Beware of Mystery Packages
Imagine coming home to find an unexpected package on your doorstep. It has your name on it, so you open it. Inside is a small gift and a note. There’s no sender listed, but the note invites you to scan a QR code to "find out who sent it" or to "get return instructions."
Tempting, right? Maybe you even start wondering if you have a secret admirer. Unfortunately, that curiosity is exactly what scammers are counting on.
These mystery gifts are often a tactic to involve you in a QR code scam. Scanning the code could take you to a fake website designed to steal your personal or financial information. Even worse, it could trigger a malware download that gives scammers access to your device. Definitely not the surprise you were expecting!
So what should you do? The safest option is simple: don’t scan the QR code. Instead, report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
And the gift? Good news, you’re legally allowed to keep it or toss it. Just stay vigilant and avoid letting curiosity lead you into a scam.
Sources:
Scam alert: QR code on an unexpected package | Consumer Advice
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Unsolicited Packages Containing QR Codes Used to Initiate Fraud Schemes
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