SKY has warned its customers about a scheme aimed at defrauding customers through QR codes and destroying their funds. The broadcaster uses QR codes to help customers sign up for new apps. However, these codes have been compromised by fraudsters.
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According to a report by HP Wolf Security published earlier this year, hackers are increasingly using QR codes to steal data and money from people. From October 2022 to March of this year, the security team saw new QR code scanning campaigns almost daily.
Many people use the QR code scanner built into Apple or Android phone's camera. But these systems trick people into scanning QR codes from computers using their mobile phones. These malicious systems then redirect victims to malicious websites, which ask for credit and debit card details.
“Sometimes, when you sign up for a new app on Sky Q, Sky Glass or Sky Stream, we may ask you to scan a QR code that appears on your screen. This is to help you set up the app more quickly,” Sky explains in a help forum.
“We are currently experiencing an issue where some customers, who are using third-party QR code scanner apps, are being redirected to a fake website and having their financial information stolen.“
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There is also the possibility that there will be scammers who will pretend to be Sky and ask for payment for a subscription, or they may even offer an offer that seems too good to be true.
Sky has said that in future it will only ask its customers to scan a QR code on official Sky pages and not via email or non-Sky websites.
"We would advise you to only use your phone's camera when scanning QR codes on Sky pages," the company added.
Installing QR scanning apps can put you at risk of installing a malicious app on device . Therefore, we recommend using your Android or iPhone's built-in QR scanner. You can find it in the camera app.
To log in, simply point your camera over the QR code and click the link that appears in the app. If your device can't scan QR codes, Sky advises you to follow the link the old-fashioned way.
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"If your phone's camera doesn't have a built-in scanner, carefully enter the URL provided next to the QR code into your phone's browser," the company said.
