The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has cautioned Nigerians to exercise caution when scanning QR codes, as scammers are now exploiting them for fraudulent activities. The warning was issued by NITDA in a statement released on Saturday, March 30, 2024. The agency revealed that malicious actors are misusing QR codes for phishing scams, payment fraud, and data theft, as well as for identity theft.
A QR code is a machine-readable code composed of an array of black and white squares, commonly used to store URLs or other information for scanning by a smartphone camera. Despite being a convenient tool for quick access to information and actions, QR codes have unfortunately become a target for scammers engaging in fraudulent activities. These activities come in various forms and are designed to entice unsuspecting users into scanning them.
“The implications of these codes on users vary depending on the approach taken by the scammers. QR codes can be exploited by malicious actors to deceive unsuspecting users and perpetrate fraudulent activities,” the agency stated. According to NITDA, scammers employ QR codes in diverse ways to achieve their malevolent objectives.
In safeguarding against falling prey to scammers, NITDA recommended that users exercise caution when scanning codes from unknown sources or unsolicited messages. It also advised users to verify the authenticity of QR codes and associated links before scanning them. Additionally, using reputable QR code scanning apps with built-in security features and ensuring devices are updated with the latest antivirus software and security patches can help protect QR code users against potential threats.
