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Attention, Kassel! Fake QR codes on parking meters exposed!
Fake QR codes were discovered on parking ticket machines in Kassel. The police warn against “quishing” and give safety tips.
Attention, Kassel! Fake QR codes on parking meters exposed!
A warning from Kassel is currently causing a stir: several parking ticket machines in the northern Hesse city have been provided with fake QR codes. This scam, known as “quishing,” aims to scam unsuspecting users out of their contact and banking information. Customers who use the scannable codes are directed to a website that looks deceptively real, but is not the official Pay by Phone provider site Hesse show reported.
Although the city of Kassel and the police in northern Hesse are warning those affected and are already taking measures to remove the counterfeit stickers, controlling the more than 300 machines remains a major challenge. The fraudsters are also extremely sophisticated and specifically look for users who may be using outdated smartphones or software, explains Christopher Kunz from Heise Security. The risks are high: users could not only lose their credit card details, but also unknowingly download malware.
How do you protect yourself?
The police and experts recommend being particularly careful when dealing with QR codes. It is advised to never scan QR codes from unknown or suspicious sources and instead check the original labeling of the machines. Even if the QR code points to the correct website, it does so via an external server - which could be potentially dangerous. The Hesse State Criminal Police Office also provides the following tips for avoiding quishing:
- Scannen Sie keine QR-Codes aus unbekannten Quellen.
- Prüfen Sie die URL auf verdächtige Zeichen.
- Vertrauen Sie nur QR-Codes von offiziellen Stellen.
- Nutzen Sie Sicherheitssoftware auf Smartphones.
- Seien Sie vorsichtig bei Zahlungsaufforderungen und überprüfen Sie die Webseite, bevor Sie persönliche Daten eingeben.
But quishing is not limited to parking ticket machines. Fraudulent QR codes often appear at charging stations for electric cars, on buses and trains, and on fake traffic tickets. Even emails that supposedly came from the ADAC were identified and exposed as attempts at fraud. This shows how versatile and clever fraudsters operate on the Internet, reports Consumer advice center.
If you suspect that you have become a victim of quishing, you need to act quickly. Inform the police and, if necessary, your bank immediately to avoid further damage. Take advantage of the free advice offered by consumer advice centers if you have questions or are unsure how you can better protect yourself. For more complex concerns, the consumer advice centers also offer on-site or video advice in order to safely navigate the jungle of digital challenges, such as Lower Saxony Consumer Center highlights.
In times when digital crime is increasing, a watchful eye is required. Avoid carelessly scanning QR codes and always keep yourself informed about the latest security standards. Your protection starts with you!