[ad_1]
- The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has informed Nigerians of the various ways fraudsters are now operating their scams
- Scammers are now using quick response (QR) codes to steal important messages from users, the agency says
- Scammers are now said to be creating phishing codes to reroute payments and planting malware to trick users
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has been covering technology, energy, stocks, investing and the economy for over a decade.
The National Information Technology Development Authority (NITDA) has warned Nigerians to scan Quick Response (QR) codes carefully as scammers are now using them to defraud people.
Bad actors are now using QR codes to conduct phishing scams, payment fraud and data theft, the agency said in its latest advisory on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
QR code used to steal payments
A QR code is a machine-readable code consisting of a series of black and white squares, often used to store URLs or other information for a smartphone camera to read.
Recapitalization: CBN, EFCC supervise banks to prevent illegal funds from being injected into the banking system
Notice: Share your great stories with our editors! Please contact us at info@corp.legit.ng!
Nida said:
“The impact of these codes on users varies, depending on the approach taken by Scammer Impact. QR codes can be exploited by malicious actors to deceive unsuspecting users and conduct fraudulent activities.”
this statement Scammers use QR codes to achieve their goals, the agency said, adding that scammers can generate QR codes that direct users to phishing websites or apps.
NITDA also said scammers can create code to initiate illegal transactions or reroute payments to their accounts instead of the intended recipient.
How scammers steal important information
In addition, scammers can also use deceptive codes to steal important documents and embed malware or data-stealing scripts in QR codes.
“Users’ personal information, including names, addresses and contact details, can be collected through QR codes inserted into false advertisements or online surveys. This information can then be used for identity theft or other targeted fraud. ” NITDA said.
Rice merchants were exposed to deceive customers by falsely reporting 25kg and 50kg bags
The agency asked Nigerians using QR codes to be wary of scanning codes that come from unknown sources or unsolicited messages. It also requires users to verify the legitimacy of QR codes and links before scanning them.
It also requires Nigerians to use reputable QR code scanning applications with built-in security features and update their devices with the latest antivirus software and security patches.
First Bank, Access, GTB and UBA expose scams
Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigerian banks have once again sent messages to customers asking them to be vigilant amid rising cases of fraud.
In a similar message, the bank also provided action steps that customers must take to avoid falling victim.
The leadership reported that Nigerians lost up to N51 billion in savings due to bank-related fraud between 2019 and July 2023.
Source: Legit.ng
[ad_2]
Source link