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.

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.