AI Scams & Fraud
QR code scams
A sticker over a real code is all it takes.
4 min readBeginnerMobile Devices
What You Need to Know
A QR code is just a link you cannot read. Fraudulent codes appear on parking meters, flyers, packages, and restaurant tables, often pasted directly over the legitimate one.
Why It Matters
Scanning happens on phones, where the address bar is short and the payment flow is fast, so people commit before they have really looked at where they are.
Warning Signs checklist
- A sticker sitting on top of printed material
- The link preview does not match the business
- The page asks for a full login or card details immediately
- An unexpected code arrives by mail or text
How to Protect Yourself steps
- 1Read the URL preview before opening it
- 2Type known web addresses instead of scanning
- 3Feel for a sticker layered over a printed code
- 4Pay through the merchant's official app when possible
Quick Checklist
- Read the URL preview before opening it
- Type known web addresses instead of scanning
- Feel for a sticker layered over a printed code
- Pay through the merchant's official app when possible
Helpful Resources
- The Curiosity EditLong-form essays on cyber, AI, and everyday technology.
- Career GalaxyDiscover the careers built around this exact problem.
- Government resourcesOfficial reporting and recovery links, being verified before we publish them.
- Trusted nonprofitsCommunity partners offering free education and support, list in progress.
Follow the Rabbit Hole