Quishing: Be Cautious of QR Code scams!

TrainMyParent.com
Jun 3
3 min read

A restaurant menu with a QR code to today's specials — For today's specials, scan the QR code!

As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, one of the newest threats gaining traction is quishing. While phishing scams have been around for years, quishing represents a modern twist that uses a QR code (Quick Response code) as the basis of a scam to deceive victims. It’s fast becoming a favorite technique among cyber criminals, especially as QR codes become more embedded in everyday life, from restaurant menus to business transactions.

What is Quishing?

Quishing is short for QR code phishing. It’s a type of cyberattack where scammers use QR codes to lure you into visiting malicious websites, downloading malware, or giving away sensitive information, such as your login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal details. In a typical quishing attack:

The attacker generates a QR code that links to a malicious site.
The code is embedded in emails, physical flyers, fake posters, legitimate-looking documents, or pasted onto the outside of packages that have no return address.
When a QR code is scanned with a mobile device or tablet, you are redirected to a spoofed website, or a website that installs malware without your knowledge.

Because QR codes are visual and don’t reveal their destination until scanned, they’re ideal tools for hiding malicious intent.

Why is Quishing Dangerous?

1. Invisible Links: Unlike hyperlinks that show a URL on hover, QR codes hide the destination completely. Most people are easy targets because they don’t verify the URL prior to scanning.

2. Smartphone Vulnerabilities: Many users scan QR codes on their smartphones, where it's harder to spot phishing sites. Mobile browsers may also lack some security features found in typical desktop brownsers.

3. Social Engineering: Attackers often use urgency or familiarity, such as posing as banks, delivery services, or even internal IT departments, and then trick users into acting quickly without thinking.

4. No Need for Clicking: Because scanning a QR code requires minimal user interaction, it lowers the barrier for initiating an attack compared to traditional phishing emails.

5. Harder to Detect and Block: Smart devices typically do not analyze QR codes the way that some email servers can pre-scan messages for malicious links.

Examples of Quishing Scams:

Fake Parking Tickets: Scammers place fake tickets with QR codes on windshields, leading to payment pages that steal credit card data.
Workplace Scams: Fake posters in office spaces ask employees to scan a QR code to reset their password or update credentials.
Delivery Notifications: Text messages, emails, or even letters claim a package is on hold or delayed, and they provide a QR code to track the package. Once scanned, the victim is redirected to a phishing site.
Packages with No Return Labels: When a package arrives on your doorstep, but it does not have a return address...it only has a QR code, which, when scanned, redirects the recipient to a phishing site.

How to Avoid Being Caught in a Quishing Scam

A. Be Wary of QR Codes in Unusual Places: Don’t scan QR codes from random flyers, posters, or emails unless you’re sure of the source. If it’s a physical code (e.g., on a flyer), look for signs of tampering or stickers placed over existing codes.

B. Preview the URL: Many smartphone QR scanners let you preview the link before visiting. Always check the URL carefully. If it looks suspicious or has misspellings, don’t proceed.

C. Use a Secure QR Scanner: Some security apps and modern smartphones have built-in safe QR scanners that warn about suspicious links. Use these instead of basic camera apps.

D. Never Enter Sensitive Information After Scanning: Don’t enter passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data on a site you accessed via a QR code unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legitimate.

E. Verify with the Source: If a QR code claims to be from your bank, company, or service provider, contact them directly using official channels before taking any action.

F. Keep Your Device Updated: Ensure your phone’s operating system and security software are up to date to help detect and block malicious sites.

A hand holding a cell phone with a QR code on the screen — Think before you scan!

Quishing is a powerful reminder that convenience often comes with risk. QR codes are incredibly useful, but they also offer a new avenue for attackers to exploit trust and bypass traditional security measures.

Stay alert, be skeptical of QR codes in unexpected contexts, and think before you scan. A few seconds of caution can save you from a costly mistake.

Learn how you can protect yourself or your family by enrolling in the Complete Internet Security Basics and Phishing Awareness Course for Parents on TrainMyParent.com

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