The FBI is raising public awareness about a deceptive new scam involving unsolicited packages that contain malicious QR codes. Criminals are sending these packages without revealing the sender’s identity, luring recipients into scanning the enclosed QR codes.
Once scanned, these codes may lead to phishing sites where victims are prompted to provide sensitive personal or financial information. In other cases, the codes direct users to download malware designed to steal data from their devices.
The scam is an evolved version of the “brushing” tactic, traditionally used by online vendors to boost product ratings by shipping unordered goods and posting fake positive reviews using recipient info. This new twist uses QR codes to facilitate financial fraud.
To protect yourself:
- Be cautious of packages you didn’t order especially if there’s no sender information.
- Avoid scanning QR codes from unknown sources.
- Never grant phone or app permissions without verifying the legitimacy of the prompt.
- Secure your accounts if you suspect fraudulent activity.
- Request a free credit report to check for signs of identity theft.
The FBI encourages victims or anyone encountering suspicious packages to report incidents to its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), including as many details as possible.
Found this article interesting? Follow us on X(Twitter) ,Threads and FaceBook to read more exclusive content we post.
