You may want to think twice before scanning that QR code.
The black and white square barcodes we scan from our phones that take us directly to a website or app can also take us straight to cyber criminals.
The Federal Trade Commission warned Thursday that scammers are hiding harmful links in QR codes to steal personal information.
"There are reports of scammers covering up QR codes on parking meters with a QR code of their own. And some crafty scammers might send you a QR code by text message or email and make up a reason for you to scan it," said Alvaro Puig, an FTC consumer education specialist, in a consumer alert.
Some ways scammers try to con people include:
• Lying and saying they couldn't deliver your package and you need to contact them to reschedule
• Pretending like there's a problem with your account and you need to confirm your information
• Lying, saying they noticed suspicious activity on your account, and you need to change your password
"These are all lies they tell you to create a sense of urgency. They want you to scan the QR code and open the URL without thinking about it," Puig said.
According to the FTC, a scammer's QR code could take you to a spoofed site that looks real but isn't. And if you log into the spoofed site, the scammers could steal any information you enter. Or the QR code could install malware on your device that steals your information before you realize it.
Follow these tips to protect yourself:
• If you see a QR code in an unexpected place, inspect the URL before you open it. If it looks like a URL you recognize, make sure it’s not spoofed — look for misspellings or a switched letter.
• Don't scan a QR code in an email or text message you weren't expecting — especially if it urges you to act immediately. If you think the message is legitimate, use a phone number or website you know is real to contact the company.
• Protect your phone and accounts. Update your phone's OS to protect against hackers and protect your online accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.