Don’t have retail in your pocket? Don’t care. Just scan the shop’s QR code with your smartphone. This hassle-free digital transaction is now popular everywhere – from cities to villages. From grocery stores to petrol pumps, everywhere is now adorned with this black-and-white square code. But there is a danger lurking behind the benefits. A little bit of carelessness can leave your hard-earned savings in the hands of fraudsters in no time. So it is important to know some special rules before scanning.
First of all, Check whether there is a sticker or separate paper pasted over the QR code. Many times fraudsters put their own code on top of the original code. Touch the code with your finger before paying. Do not use that code even in the slightest doubt.
secondly, Don’t rush. After scanning the code, read the name or information that appears on the screen by heart. Enter the PIN only after verifying whether the screen name matches the store name or not. Remember, you never have to scan a QR code to get paid. If someone asks you to scan the code before sending money, know it’s a scam for sure.
thirdly, Always use trusted apps like Google Pay, Phone Pay or Paytm for transactions. Scanning QR code with an unknown third party app is very dangerous. This risks exposing your phone’s confidential information to hackers.
fourthly, If you are prompted to click on a pop-up message or suspicious link after scanning, back off immediately. Cyber experts say it is necessary to change UPI PIN regularly and keep bank’s security settings strong. If in any way a victim of fraud, report the bank’s helpline or national cybercrime portal without delay. Remember, your awareness is the biggest weapon to prevent digital fraud.
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