LANSING – As many who attend the Detroit Auto Show beginning this week will encounter a QR code to learn about products, share information, get rewards and discounts, make a payment, and more, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is re-issuing a consumer alert on QR Code Hijacking to help visitors avoid scams.
A QR code is a square matrix barcode that can be scanned using a smartphone. Scanning the code directs the user to a specific website or app. QR codes are customized for many different purposes. They have replaced paper menus in restaurants, airline boarding passes, and event tickets.
QR codes are convenient, easy to create, and the cost is minimal. This makes them appealing to cybercriminals, who create their own codes for malicious purposes. The FBI has previously issued a warning that criminals are hijacking QR codes by placing stickers with codes they have created over the top of real QR codes. When scanned, these malicious codes direct victims to phishing websites where the scammers can steal personal or financial information.
“A QR code in a public place can easily be tampered with, especially at large events,” Nessel said. “While enjoying the Auto Show this month, remember not to scan a code if it is on a sticker, looks like it has been replaced, or is covered up.”
The Detroit Auto Show takes place from January 14-25 at Huntington Place in Detroit. If you believe you have been a victim of QR code fraud, report the fraud to your local FBI field office and to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you have a consumer complaint, please file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
