The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning about potential risks associated with QR codes, noting an increase in scammers using these codes to pilfer personal information. As smartphone QR scanners are projected to increase in usage, reaching 102.6 million in the U.S. by 2026, fraudsters have been replacing legitimate QR codes with malicious ones. They send these codes via text or email and may even cover QR codes on physical objects like parking meters to deceive people into scanning them. The aftermath of such scams can lead to identity theft, with scammers using stolen data for various fraudulent activities. The FTC advises consumers to exercise caution, avoid scanning codes from unknown sources, and verify the legitimacy of URLs before entering personal information.
In related news, the website actionrefundgroup.com has been flagged as suspicious and potentially unsafe. The domain is very new, lacking HTTPS connection and SSL certificates, raising concerns about its credibility. Additionally, Hobitax com is identified as a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform conducting a scam operation. It falsely promises free Bitcoin and extraordinary returns using fake celebrity endorsements, employing deepfake videos and doctored screenshots. Victims may face challenges recovering any money sent to Hobitax or providing personal data to the scam.
By FCCT Editorial Team
, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan raped several dozen women and girls in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, and those fleeing to Chad between late April and late June 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. The assailants appear to have targeted people because of their Massalit ethnicity and, in some cases, because they were known activists.){kind=link}