Tricking people into scanning QR codes on winning tickets to scam

Warning information

Recently, many Facebook pages in Hai Duong have shared warnings about a new form of fraud with the following content: Currently, some people in the area have received packages from the delivery person (shipper), when opened, there is a winning scratch card inside. On the scratch card, when scratched, there is a prize, to receive the prize, you must access the link on the QR code and provide personal information to complete the procedure to receive the prize. This is a new and very dangerous form of property appropriation fraud...

Not only personal Facebook, some fanpages of agencies and units also share this warning information such as fanpage "HAI DUONG MOI", fanpage "Gia Loc District Police, Hai Duong", "Cam Hung Commune Police, Cam Giang, Hai Duong", "Chi Lang Bac Commune Police, Thanh Mien District, Hai Duong Province"...

The Criminal Police Department (Gia Loc District Police) said that the unit has not recorded any cases of users being scammed by scanning QR codes on winning tickets sent in mail as warned above. The unit's fanpage shares information about this new form of fraud to propagate and warn people to be aware and avoid it.

The Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention (Hai Duong Provincial Police) has not recorded any cases of fraud using the above form. However, the possibility that the QR code printed in the gift voucher is to trick people into accessing a fake website in order to steal information and property is entirely possible. Because in reality, there have been users who, after scanning the QR code on the website, were redirected to a fraudulent page and had their account information stolen.

The Department of Information Security (Ministry of Information and Communications) has confirmed that the above warning information is not fake news, when the Ha Tinh Provincial Police and Thu Duc City (Ho Chi Minh City) issued a warning stating that some local residents had received postal items with QR code-attached winning coupons, requiring the recipient to scan the QR code to access the link and provide personal information to complete the prize receiving procedure.

Raise awareness

This form of fraud by scanning QR codes on winning tickets is very dangerous, and people who are not vigilant can easily fall into the trap. First, the scammers prey on people's greed and curiosity. Then, they lure the "prey" to follow the instructions to receive the prize, then steal personal information, bank accounts, download malware to the device or request money transfers to the subjects.

To achieve their goals, scammers are constantly changing their "trap" methods. Recently, Hai Duong Provincial Police warned that there are 3 main scam groups: brand counterfeiting, account hijacking and other combined forms with 24 scams taking place on the internet targeting groups of the elderly, children, students, youth, workers, laborers, and office workers. At the same time, people are advised not to panic when receiving calls or messages from strangers with bad content related to incidents and cases. Do not be greedy, do not make friends with strangers and do not transfer money when requested. Always be vigilant and report immediately to the police when in doubt.

People should also be cautious when scanning codes, especially QR codes in public places or shared via social networks or email. It is necessary to carefully check the account information of the person sending the QR code, the content of the website the QR code is sent to. In particular, do not accept packages of unknown origin.

To ensure safety and compliance with regulations when transporting goods and mail, delivery units in Hai Duong when receiving mail require the sender to declare, open the package to check, if it is not on the prohibited list, then pack and classify it for sending. However, with mail that is letters and documents, the delivery unit is not allowed to check because of the confidentiality of the mail.

Ms. Vu Thi Vien, Deputy Head of the Technical Department (Hai Duong Provincial Post Office) said that the unit always strictly controls the process of receiving postal items. All postal item inspection activities are monitored by cameras. "In response to recent warnings about a form of fraud by scanning QR codes on winning coupons in postal items sent by shippers, Hai Duong Provincial Post Office has promoted postal staff to be vigilant. When detecting suspicious postal items, sending goods with QR code scanning coupons, it is necessary to report to superiors to coordinate with the police force to check and handle," Ms. Vien said.