FBI warns that hackers are corrupting QR codes to conduct phishing attacks

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced that cybercriminals are altering Quick Response (QR) codes to redirect people to phishing websites. QR codes are used commonly in businesses for convenience and saw a rise in use during the global pandemic and thus, customers should remain vigilant.

Hackers are capitalizing on this trend by sending unsuspecting individuals to sites, which attempt to steal their credentials and financial information. This may grant hackers access to the victim’s payment information, allowing them to steal money from the person’s bank account.

These bad actors can modify either digital or physical QR codes with malicious codes. Malware contained in these malicious codes can compromise the person’s device and may reveal the user’s location in addition to personal information.

Therefore, the FBI advises individuals to ensure that websites originating from QR codes are legitimate since there is no guarantee that stolen money from criminal transactions can be recovered. The FBI also cautions customers to look out for tampered physical QR codes. For example, the original QR code may be obscured by a sticker.

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