While verifying a real QR code from a fake one isn’t as easy as picking out a suspicious email, the FBI has several tips on how to make sure that what you scanned is legitimate. Before you scan, it’s recommended to take a good look at the QR code sticker itself. Does it look compromised? Maybe worn around a corner as if someone tried to lift it off? While it may have been from a bored customer picking at the corners, it could be a sign that someone replaced the original sticker with another code.
Next, when you do scan the code, double-check to see if the URL of the website you’ve been brought to is authentic. If it has any typos, such as the name of the business being misspelled, you’re probably on the wrong website. Finally, it’s best not to conduct any transactions that require personal information on a website from a QR code. When possible, use a trusted mobile payment app or simply pay with cash. How on-alert should you be about these schemes? According to the AARP, these types of scams have been around since the first QR code came out in the 1990s. Any sort of new technology can be used by scammers, given enough time. This definitely doesn’t mean you should stop eating out — just consider being more cautious the next time you scan something with your phone.
