Malicious QR Code Scam
Scammers place fake QR codes over legitimate ones at parking meters, restaurants, public spaces. Scanning leads to phishing sites.
🚩 Red Flags
- ⚠QR appears to be sticker over another
- ⚠Scanned URL doesn't match expected business
- ⚠Unexpected payment request
- ⚠Poor-quality sticker
🛡️ Protect Yourself
- →CHECK for stickers over original codes
- →VERIFY URL before entering info
- →USE official apps for parking
- →TYPE URLs manually when possible
More Details
- “Scan to pay for parking”
- “Scan for contactless menu”
- “Scan for exclusive discount”
Common Questions
Phishing via SMS text. Fake alerts about packages, tolls, banks with links to credential-stealing sites.
Probably not. Toll agencies bill by mail. FBI reported 59,271 toll scam complaints in 2024. Check your toll account directly.
Check sender address exactly, look for generic greetings and urgency, hover over links to see real URL. Go directly to websites, never click links.
Don't click. Open your bank's app or call the number on your card. Scammers spoof bank numbers.
Report This Scam
If you've encountered this scam, report it to help protect others.
Warn Someone You Know
Know someone who might fall for this? Share this warning with them.
Related Scams
Unpaid Toll Text Scam
Fake texts claim unpaid tolls with fines threatened. Real toll agencies send by mail, not text. FBI IC3: 59,271 complaints in 2024.
Fake USPS Delivery Text Scam
Scam texts impersonate USPS claiming package problems. Links lead to phishing sites. USPS does not send unsolicited texts.
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73% of Americans targeted(Pew, 2025)
|$470M lost to text scams in 2024(FTC)
|$16.6B total losses(FBI IC3, 2024)