The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) issued a cautionary alert warning to Nigerians, warning them about QR code scams and advising them to be more cautious when scanning their QR codes due to the outburst of fraudulent activities caused by online scammers.
In its latest advisory, posted on its official Twitter X account on Sunday, March 31st, the agency highlighted the alarming trend of malicious online individuals exploiting QR codes for various fraudulent activities, such as payment fraud, phishing scams, identity theft, and data theft.
QR codes, commonly known as machine-readable codes made of black and white squares, are all used for saving URLs or accessing other information through smartphone cameras.
The advisory from NITDA serves as a strict reminder to all users to stay vigilant and employ all necessary safety majors before scanning any QR codes to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of cyber scams by scammers.
Part of the advisory alert noted that , “QR codes, while fast and convenient for quick access to information and actions, have unfortunately become a tool exploited by scammers for fraudulent activities.
Their activities take different forms and are all created to mislead unsuspecting users into scanning them for use.
“The effect of these codes on users is different depending on the means used by the Scammer Impact QR codes, which can be abused by malicious scammers to mislead unsuspecting individuals and perpetrate fraudulent activities.”
NITDA reported that fraudsters employ different methods to carry out their illegal activities through QR codes.
“Phishing scammers can create QR codes that are directed to malicious applications, software, or phishing websites. People can scan these codes with the thought that they are real and end up losing their information. Scammers can develop QR codes that will begin illegal transactions or payments transferred to their own accounts rather than the intended receiver.
“The actors may input malicious payloads, such as malware or data-stealing scripts, into the QR codes. By abusing the security vulnerabilities in all users’ devices, they can steal personal documents, passwords, financial information, and other sensitive data.
“ Users’ personal information, which includes names, addresses, and contact details, are liable to be collected using QR codes set in fake ads or online surveys. All this information can then be manipulated for personal identity theft or other fraudulent acts,” the advisory stated.
NITDA alerts users of QR codes to display caution when scanning codes from strange sources.
The agency said it was necessary in order to verify the intensity of QR codes and related links before continuing the scanning.
Furthermore, NITDA suggests the use of reputable QR code scanning apps that have built-in security features.
The agency recommended that users keep all their devices updated with the latest antivirus software and security software to enhance the protection of QR code users against any cyber threats from scammers.
In January, the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria spoke about an up rise in the insider threats against the country in 2024, caused by an increase in the abusive use of artificial intelligence, AI
To avoid all this alarming threat of cyber hacktivism in 2024, the advisory said Nigeria must adjust to a multi-faceted medium, which includes investing into getting advanced security technologies and improving the capabilities of your cyber security personnel.
Discover more from Infodorm
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.