Cyber security : Reports from companies indicate an increase in phishing attacks via email. A report last month said that criminals are using QR codes to encode links to phishing and scam pages. To avoid these, users need to understand such scams. Let us know what phishing attacks are and how criminals carry out these scams.
When you scan a QR code, you need to be careful immediately. Fraudsters have come up with a new trick to cheat users. Many users are easily being victimized by this. This new scam of cyber criminals is being done through email.
In this, a QR code is sent to the email of the users for phishing attack. On scanning this QR code a fake webpage opens. Here users are asked to provide personal details like email and bank account number. After entering personal data, hackers can use this information for their benefit.
What is a phishing attack for QR codes ?
Phishing attack is a type of cyber attack, in which hackers send fraudulent links or QR codes etc. These look like links or QR codes from a trusted company, bank or brand. Such attacks are usually carried out through email. Governments, brands and cyber security companies are constantly making people aware about the methods that hackers use to defraud people.
QR code scanning method replaced with suspicious link
Awareness campaigns run to protect people from cyber crime make users less likely to click on links that look suspicious. In such a situation, a way was found to cheat people through QR code. As soon as users scan the QR code, the criminal’s work is done. There is no way to check and block QR codes, unlike email addresses or links that help identify cyber attacks.
As soon as the code is scanned, you are redirected to a fake website.
QR code cannot tell which link will open when the user scans it. When such malicious QR codes are scanned, users are redirected to a fake website, which asks for necessary information related to email and banking. As soon as users fill this information, hackers collect that information and commit financial crimes through it.
Such warnings are given
If there is any code in an email then it can harm you. Such fake emails will contain warnings like account password expiring or email access lost, claiming to solve the problem by scanning the QR code. Therefore, even if you scan, be careful if you are redirected to any website or page and are asked to fill any information there.