QR Code Scams Lead to Unauthorized Charges, Data Theft

Why it matters locally: While not directly tied to a specific Idaho industry, the increasing prevalence of QR code scams poses a broad consumer protection concern for residents across the state, including in heavily populated areas like Ada County and Canyon County.

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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.