A new variant of orders related to orders is worrying federal authorities in the United States.
The FBI has alerted a new type of fraud and advises citizens to be vigilant when they receive orders for orders they were not waiting, containing QR codes.
According to, criminals began to explore the omnipresence of QR codes as a tool for financial fraud e identity theft.
The scheme, which there is no news that has already arrived in Portugal, develops When a person receives a package unexpected, which is addressed to it, but no clear sender.
Inside the packaging there is normally a QR code and a message that invites the recipient to Read the code for details About the package, instructions to return it, or sometimes to claim an alleged award.
Although the cases of this scam are not yet so widespread Like other forms of fraud, the FBI emphasizes the need for public awareness, citing the tactics in rapid evolution of cybercriminals.
When scanned, a fraudulent QR code automatically infects a device, but The real danger lies in the place where the code drivesexplains the.
Often these codes redirect people off guard for websites of phishingskillfully disguised as websites of legitimate companies – where visitors are asked to indicate personal or financial information, such as credit card details, access credentials, or residential addresses.
In some incidents already reported, scanning the code received in the order resulted in the Download malware to the device the victim, opening the door to the theft of data and unauthorized access to applicationscontacts, and even online bank accounts.
Many people still underestimate the potential threat to scan codes of unknown origins. According to an investigation from NORDVPN, 73 % of Americans digitizes QR codes without verification, and More than 26 million have already been directed to malicious websites.
The authorities linked this scam of QR codes to a broader fraudulent practice known as brushingin which unscrupulous e -commerce salespeople increase their classifications and the visibility of their products Submitting unreserved and low cost goods to random individuals.
These illegitimate remittances allow sellers Publish false reviews “Verified” on behalf of the recipient, inflation and improving the perceived reliability of the online product.
With the QR codes, the brushing now lead to the risk of exposing the recipients to Phishing or Malware attacksputting even more in danger your privacy and security.
Consumer protection agencies are advising extra surveillance with unexpected deliveries, and recommend that users do not digitize QR codes of unknown referrals or unquited packages.
