QR Code Scams Lead to Unauthorized Charges, Data Theft

Why it matters locally: Pennsylvania residents, like consumers nationwide, are susceptible to QR code scams, which could lead to unauthorized financial charges and data theft. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has previously issued warnings regarding various scamming tactics.

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Scammers have increasingly utilized QR codes to compromise personal accounts and steal data, according to recent reports. These incidents often involve consumers scanning a QR code and subsequently downloading an application, which then facilitates unauthorized financial transactions. Les Howard, a consumer affected by this scam, reported a monthly subscription of £60 charged to his account. This charge began after he downloaded an application that originated from scanning a QR code.