The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has warned Nigerians of the increasing prevalence of QR code scams, emphasising the need for increased vigilance among the public.
NITDA, the Federal tech agency of Nigeria, wants the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious QR codes or related activities to relevant authorities for further investigation and action.
In an advisory issued by NITDA, by following the underlisted preventive measures, users can minimise the risk of falling victim to fraudulent QR code scams and protect their personal information and financial assets.
Phishing Scams: Scammers generate QR codes that lead to malicious applications or phishing websites, tricking users into divulging sensitive information.
Payment Fraud: Fraudsters create QR codes that initiate unauthorized transactions or reroute payments to their accounts instead of the intended recipients.
Data Theft: Malicious payloads like malware or data-stealing scripts can be embedded within QR codes, allowing threat actors to steal private documents, financial information, and passwords.
Identity Theft: QR codes inserted in fake advertisements or online surveys collect users’ personal information, which can be exploited for identity theft or other fraudulent activities.
QR Code scams: Preventive Measures
To safeguard against fraudulent QR codes, NITDA recommends the following preventive measures: Exercise Caution: Users should be cautious when scanning QR codes from unfamiliar sources or unsolicited messages.
Verify Legitimacy: Before scanning QR codes, verify their legitimacy and associated links to ensure they are not malicious.
Use Reputable Apps: Utilize reputable QR code scanning apps equipped with built-in security features to minimize the risk of exploitation.
Keep Software Updated: Regularly update devices with the latest antivirus software and security patches to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
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