We said it once, and we'll say it again: Our best advice is to exercise caution when scanning QR codes. It will issue a security prompt when it detects such links and ask users if they wish to proceed. WeChat and Alipay insist that they're taking measures to prevent such scams, according to China Daily.Īlipay, for example, has a site detection function that can be used to determine if QR codes contain malicious links. Some criminals paste their own QR codes over the original ones to illicitly obtain money, as ordinary consumers simply cannot tell the difference." Second, QR codes are a kind of information technology that cannot be verified as genuine by the eye.
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First, the code technology is not very secure and it can be manipulated by criminals. "There are two reasons why QR codes are a popular means of conducting criminal activities. In an op-ed, China Daily explained why QR codes are so easy for criminals to use: One man was able to steal RMB900,000 from people via fake Mobike QR codes in Guangdong earlier this month. While both of them were able to spot the scams before losing their money, not every victim has been as lucky. And in October, a Guangzhou woman discovered fraudulent codes on a rental bike.įake QR codes spotted by a woman in Guangzhou in October 2016. In February, one Shanghai man spotted fake QR codes on a Mobike. The booming popularity of bike-share apps has also led to scams where fraudsters post fake QR codes on the bicycles in circulation so that unsuspecting consumers pay the deposit fee to criminals instead of Mobike or Ofo. Other instances of QR code fraud include criminals infecting smartphones with viruses (which then allow them to steal money from mobile payment apps like Alipay) and crimes akin to "phishing scams" where unsuspecting users who believe they are paying for shops or services are instead fooled into transferring money into other accounts. READ MORE: Guangzhouers Scammed 90 Million RMB by Fraudulent QR Codes
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And more often then not, people prefer scanning WeChat QR codes over exchanging business cards when networking or socializing.īut beware of fake QR codes: they could cost you.Īs the technology becomes more ingrained into our everday lives, they're also becoming the tool of choice for scammers to empty wallets or install malware on your device.Įarlier this month, a Southern Metropolis Daily investigation revealed that Guangzhouers have been scammed out of RMB90 million via fradulent QR codes. You can use them to purchase almost anything, from convenience store goods to Starbucks drinks. Quick Response (QR) codes are quickly becoming a way of life in China.
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