BEWARE! If you scan QR codes to make payments then STOP! Don’t do THIS, you will lose money
QR codes as a technology has existed since 1994 when Masahiro Hara from the Japanese automotive firm Denso Wave came up with the idea of scanning a matrix barcode to reveal certain digital information, redirect to different websites or conduct transactions. But it gained mainstream popularity in India after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the nation. As exchanging cash became riskier due to chances of contamination, people resorted to digital transactions and QR codes. QR code payments became a helpful way to transact without requiring any additional details of the payer or payee. But, with increasing popularity, various QR code scams and fraudulent activities also came up. Today, it has become extremely important to know how to avoid such scams and keep your money safe.
A QR code is a machine-readable optical label that usually contains information about the object it is attached to. Whenever a computer (or a smartphone) scans this code, the machine is able to process the information and display it to the user. However, today this technology has expanded a lot in its potential and can be used for a variety of purposes. The most important of them is making digital payments at a shop or restaurant. And because today we all carry our financial information stored in our smartphones, it is important to know whether a QR code is genuine or not. Read on to find out how you can protect yourself.
The concerns around QR codes have become even more significant after the US FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) released a list of guidelines for people to follow while scanning any QR codes. So, ensure you follow these steps too if you want to keep your device, personal information and finances safe.
1. Always check where the QR code
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