QR Codes Demystified

EP 65 - QR Codes Demystified

[00:00:00] We've got an exciting and informative episode lined up for you today. But before we dive in, let me ask you a question. Have you ever wondered what those little square codes are to see me popping up everywhere nowadays, you know, the ones you can scan with your smartphone. Well, just the other day we received a message on our website.

Ralph, I was at the grocery store the other day and I noticed a little advertisement with what looks like a UPC symbol on it, and it said to scan this for a special coupon. I went ahead and took a picture of this, and all of a sudden a website opened and was asking for my banking information to join some sort of coupon club.

I asked my daughter about it when I got home and she said it's a QR code or something and that everybody uses them, mom. I just want to make sure I'm not going to get a virus or get my identity stolen, Ralph. Can you explain what these codes are and how to prevent them from causing problems for me? Keep up the good work.

I'm really enjoying your show while I am walking in the morning. And God bless!

Well today, we're going to unravel the mystery behind those [00:01:00] codes and discuss some of the scams that are unfortunately associated with them. So buckle up and get ready to learn all about QR codes.

Welcome back to another technology. Tuesday episode, the ask Ralph podcast, where we dive into a technology question. Now you might be thinking what exactly are QR codes, Ralph. Well, my friends QR stands for quick response. And these codes are essentially two dimensional barcodes, that store information.

they kind of looked like a UPC symbol. There were first developed back in Japan in 1990 and have since gained widespread [00:02:00] popularity around the world. You've seen them everywhere. You've seen them on product advertising, product packaging, business cards, and even restaurant menus. In fact, my son is a barber.

He's got two of them on the back of his business card for people to leave tips on cash apps. But what can you do with them? And more important question is how can they potentially be used against you? Well, let's find out today. One of the most common uses of QR codes is to provide quick access to online content.

 you take a picture of the code, you scan the code and it takes you to a website. For example. You might come across a QR code on a product. And when scan takes you directly to the product's website, We can find more information or make a purchase. It is really a convenient way to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. But here's where things can get a little tricky.

And this is true of anything. Scammers and cyber criminals have found ways to exploit these QR codes for their nefarious purposes. Well, how do they do that, Ralph? Well, here's how they do [00:03:00] it. They create counterfeit QR codes that when scanned lead unsuspecting individuals to malicious websites. Or even worse, they prompt you to download harmful software. The scams can result in identity theft. Like the lady talked about that was her main concern, financial loss.

They're asking for a bank information. Or even compromise your personal information. This is just scary. So, what do you do Ralph? Well, it's crucial to stay vigilant and take precaution to protect yourself. So you might ask yourself, Ralph. What do I need to do to stay safe? I've got some actionable steps for you today.

Step number one. And it goes without saying. Be cautious when scanning QR codes from unknown sources.

In this particular case, this is in a grocery store I'm assuming it was some kind of advertisement. Probably was pretty safe. I don't know exactly what she got to when she said it was asking for her banking information, but. Generally, I would think that we'll be safe, but you have to pay attention to. So if you receive a QR code from an unsolicited email, duh, if you get a one from email, be careful. Or a text [00:04:00] message or social media posts.

Think twice before scanning it. It's always better to err on the side of caution. And verify the source before proceeding. I mean, that's pretty simple folks. If it doesn't make sense, then don't scan it. And when you scan it, if something weird pops up delete it.

Let's move on to step number two. And that's checked the destination URL before scanning a QR code, or you might ask what is a URL?

Well, that's basically the address you get to. So before you scan a QR code, take a moment to examine the website. It leads to, for example, let's say you get a QR code and it's for chase bank. You scan that QR code and it says chase bank and chase is spelled wrong. Well guess what folks. It's a pretty good sign that you got a scam thing going on there.

So stop where you're doing right then and there. look for any suspicious or unfamiliar domains. If something seems off it's best to steer clear,

I saw one of these in the past where it was an IRS fake email.

And when you scan the QR code, it took you to irs.something.gov, and it was [00:05:00] obvious it was fake. So if it seems off steer clear,

but let's move on to step number three. This one kind of goes without saying. Use a reputable Q R code scanning app. There are many QR code scanning apps available.

Not all of them are created equal. You need to stick to well-known ones and trusted apps that have positive reviews and high ratings. This will reduce the risk of falling victim to a scam.

Here's the key folks. Step number four. Keep your smartphone software up to date. This is obviously the most important thing. Regularly update your smartphones operating system and apps.

It's essential in maintaining security. I have an iPhone. Apple is constantly putting out updates. And most of the time you look and see what's the reason for the update. Well, they found an exploit, they found a, an error. They found some sort of potential leak, some type of hack. So you can need to stay up to date with those things. Because the software companies, the telephone companies are going to update their software to include patches that will block these vulnerabilities. That [00:06:00] scammers may exploit.

When it comes to identifying potentially malicious QR code is important to be vigilant. pay attention to what you're scanning and look for certain signs that indicate a potential scam. So you might ask Ralph, what are those potential signs?

Well, I've assembled a list. The first one unfamiliar source. If you receive a QR code from an unknown or unsolicited source runaway. Or as I'll say exercise caution at least. Scammers often use phishing emails, fake text messages or social media posts to distribute these malicious QR codes. Listen. Their goal is to get you to click on this code so they can exploit you. So be wary where these codes come from.

If you don't recognize them. Don't click on them. Don't trust them. Second thing you can be aware of for red flags, poor placement. Pay attention to where the QR code is displayed. If it's placed haphazardly, such as a random flyer sticker without any clear connection to a legitimate business organization, it raises suspicion.

Here's a great example of this. If you come into my tax and accounting [00:07:00] practice. I've got a couple of things up that have QR codes on them. And it says if you'd like to connect to our wifi. Take a picture of this QR code will connect to our wifi. That's legitimate. People are coming in.

They know me, they know our business, they know we're not trying to scam them. Genuine QR codes are usually associated with official branding and marketing materials. they're legitimate when you click on it. For example, let's say you're buying cookies at the store and has a QR code on the back of that Nabisco cookie box. When you click on that QR code. It takes you to a website that is from Nabisco.

You see pictures of the cookies on there. pretty good bet that that's safe. Another thing you want to look for. And I talked about this a little while ago, is misspellings or distortions. Malicious QR codes may contain misspelled words. Distorted images or other visual irregularities. here's the thing. Scammers, try to replicate legitimate QR codes and make subtle changes. To deceive unsuspecting individuals. So look at the code. Does it look like it's been monkeyed with. look at a carefully compared to the [00:08:00] QR code.

You're familiar with it, but looks funny. Don't click on it. And number four. This goes with a lot of things. Watch out for too good to be true offers be cautious of the QR codes, that promise, unbelievable rewards, discounts, or prizes. You gotta be on the lookout for these things. Anyway, folks. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

 scammers use enticing offers to lure people in the scanning. These codes of deal seems too good to be true. It's a ploy. It's fake it. They're trying to scam you. Run the other direction. you don't want to . Scan when these QR codes end up getting your device infected with malware. Another thing to be on a lookout for is unauthorized redirection. before scanning a QR code look closely at the destination URL.

It leads to, once you scan it, look at where it takes you. If the web site appear suspicious, contains random strings of characters or doesn't match the expected destination refrain from scanning the code. scammers use the QR codes, redirect users to malicious websites, designed to steal your information. [00:09:00] that's the scammers goal to take your information and to use it.

As I said before, in a nefarious way. So if when you scan it, it takes you to a website and there's misspelled numbers. There's misspelled. Words. There's all kinds of weird things on there. It's probably fake. Here's another big one. Watch out for this one. And that is permission requests. Some malicious QR codes may prompt you to grant excessive permissions or download unknown applications. Don't ever do that. Be cautious of the code asked for access to personal data.

Like in this lady's case, she said it was asking for her banking information, hold, hold the door. I don't go there. The see if it's asking for access to your camera, your contacts or sensitive information. In general. Legitimate QR codes. Don't ask for such things and are just pointing you in a direction of giving you some information. They're not trying to get you to download software.

Now that said there are some QR codes. That are used to, download an app or something like that. So you got to pay attention to what you're looking at. Another thing you can look for is a lack of encryption or [00:10:00] security measures. Legitimate QR codes often have built in security measures, such as encryption or verification methods to ensure authenticity of the code. If you QR code lacks, the security features as appears to be a simple image. With any additional layers of protection, it could be a sign of a potential scheme.

Remember. These signs are not definitive proof of malicious QR code, but they're warning signs. They're saying to you, exercise or proceed with caution. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of a QR code, it's best to err on the side of caution and just don't do it. Now, before we wrap up, I want to remind our listeners to visit our podcastPage@askralphpodcast.com. As I say all the time, you can leave us a review, share your thoughts, or even send us a message like this lady did today with questions for future episodes. While you're there. Make sure you join our email list. As I've said before, we're running a special right now where every week we're doing a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. So sign up yourself, tell others, about to get them to sign up to. You also can schedule a [00:11:00] consultation or buy one of my books.

If you go to askralphpodcast.com/store. You can see the books I have for sale. One of which is mastering your finances. The other one is gospel entrepreneurship. You want to find out ways to take your faith into your business. And another quick reminder,

 We're also starting a question a month and we encourage you to leave a voicemail message on the podcast site by clicking on the microphone at the bottom right corner. This month's question.

Is this, what do you find is the most difficult part of creating and living by a budget? That's our question. And we need your answers by March 1st. And we'll discuss the answers on the show in March. So don't forget to leave your answers. Well, my friends we've covered a lot of ground today. We've demystified, QR codes.

I hope at least I've done that. We've explored their practical uses and shed some light on the scams associated with them. I hope you find this information valuable. I hope it empowers you to navigate the digital landscape with confidence. Remember this? Financial literacy is key. and with God's [00:12:00]guidance. We can master our finances and live abundantly. Well, thank you for listening.

God bless you. And as I always say, stay financially savvy folks.