The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued a cautionary alert to Nigerians, urging them to exercise vigilance when scanning QR codes amidst a surge in fraudulent activities orchestrated by scammers.
In a recent advisory posted on its official X account on Sunday, the agency highlighted the concerning trend of scammers exploiting QR codes for various fraudulent schemes, including phishing scams, payment fraud, data theft, and identity theft.
QR codes, recognizable as machine-readable codes composed of black and white squares, are commonly used for storing URLs or other information accessible by smartphone cameras.
The advisory serves as a reminder for users to remain cautious and implement necessary precautions before scanning QR codes to mitigate the risk of falling victim to cyber scams.
Part of the advisory read, “QR codes, while fast and convenient for quick access to information and actions, have unfortunately become a tool exploited by scammers for fraudulent activities. These activities take various forms and are designed to lure unsuspecting users into scanning them.”
The implications of QR code fraud on users vary, depending on the approach taken by scammers. QR codes can be exploited by malicious actors to deceive unsuspecting users and perpetrate fraudulent activities.
NITDA revealed that fraudsters deploy multifaceted methods to perpetrate their illicit activities through QR codes. Users are advised to exercise caution and remain vigilant to safeguard themselves against potential scams.