Caution! Police warn of new quishing fraud stitches of parking machines

Caution! Police warn of new quishing fraud stitches of parking machines

Vorarlberg, Österreich - In the past few months, a worrying fraud scales has spread in Austria that aims at the technology of QR codes. This method, known as "quishing", can be found particularly often at parking machines, where criminal real QR codes glue over manipulated stickers. Drivers who scan these codes are directed to fake payment systems that serve to spy on sensitive personal information, such as credit card numbers and license plate information. According to OE24 both the police and consumer protection organizations warn of this fraud.

The term "quishing" consists of the words "QR code" and "phishing" and is not only limited to parking machines. Fake QR codes also appear in emails, letters and posters. This development is particularly alarming because QR codes are often perceived as harmless and useful, but are not recognized by many antivirus programs as a threat, such as wär.de describes.

risks and recognition of quishing

manipulated QR codes are usually attached in the form of stickers and do not lead to official payment pages. Before users enter your data, you should definitely check the URL of the website. The Consumer Protection Organization Workers' Chamber offers specific tips to protect itself from quishing. For example, you should not scan QR codes that are attached as stickers, and prefer to use the provider's official app, such as vbg.Werkammer.at recommended.

Another risk is that Quishing often remains unnoticed. Due to the invisible content of a QR code, self-practiced users can fall into the trap. Typical signs of quishing are requests for entering personal information according to the scanning of a QR code or receiving a letter from alleged institutes in which the consent is pushed on a QR code.

measures to prevent and reaction

The police and consumer advocates advise to act proactively if quishing. This includes the immediate informing of the bank and the blocking of affected accounts. It is also advisable to change all passwords for online accounts and to file a complaint with the police. In order to act more safely in the future, users should be skeptical about unsolicited QR codes and check the authenticity of emails or letters directly to the sender.

Due to the increasing digitization and the use of QR codes, it is becoming increasingly important to find out about fraud stitches such as Quishing. This is the only way to minimize the financial damage caused by such machinations.