The fraudulent ‘quishing’ scams targeting concert-goers

By placing fake QR codes over the genuine article, ‘quishing’ results in the customer being directed to a bogus website, where they unwittingly enter their personal information

QR codes, which are recognisable as a square-shaped grid storing links to an app and read by a smartphone, allow access to product information or a menu, send or receive a payment, log into an account or loyalty program. 

In a summer where demand for tickets to upcoming major musical events like Electric Picnic, Coldplay and Elvis Costello continues to rise, the prospect of getting scammed by fraudsters is an evolving problem facing consumers. 

Taking advantage of customers ordering through digital menus by placing fake QR codes over the genuine article, this new form of fraud called ‘quishing’ results in the customer being directed to a bogus website, where they unwittingly enter their personal information. QR codes, which are recognisable as a square-shaped grid storing links to an app and read by a smartphone, allow access to product information or a menu, send or receive a payment, log into an account or loyalty program.