The police issued a public warning for several incidents in which fake QR codes were used for data collection and attempts to phishing were reported in the Kozhikode district. The QR codes, reportedly found on the walls, shop shelves, parking spaces and public transport facilities, attract people with promotional offers, work opportunities and other advertising campaigns.
Police officers working with cyber cells said several people admitted that they had scanned such codes located at the gates, restaurants and parking plates. In the preliminary investigation, many of them were found to be redirected to unknown websites that demanded personal data or called on to install unknown applications.
Several people also claimed that they had received messages looking for one -off passwords, bank login information or permission to access shortly after scanning such QR codes. The survey launched the latest series of complaints ranging from residents in areas such as Mavoor Road, Palayam and Kozhikode Beach Road.
One of the complainants claimed that his control over his digital wallet was lost after scanning the QR code that offered free Wi-Fi. In another case, the SM Street shop owner recently found an unknown QR code located through the right one he held for customers in front of his store. A customer who scanned a fake code allegedly lost money through a redirected payment to an unknown account.
“Many suspicious and unverified QR codes are located as advertising on the street without any approval of the authorities. There should be proper legal regulations that would prevent these practices from strict coercive measures,” said a police officer working with a high -technical investigative cell cell. He said the police have already asked the merchants’ community to follow the false QR codes located on the true underwater.
“We are myths, we have only started to exhibit in front of the shops only laminated QR codes. Many shop owners are now exhibiting simple QR codes on the walls, because they are high for fraud in such open places,” said Siraj Mohammed, SM Street merchant.
Inspector working with the Keral Cyberdome police said that fraud using fake QR codes has been introduced for years and focused on the personal data of young people looking for free Wi-Fi. However, it has recently increased with an increase in different types of computer crimes. “Since fake QR codes are created with more purposes, it is wise to avoid them in public places placed in the name of lucrative promotional offers, free, free expenditure and highly paid jobs,” he said.
Published – 18 September 2025 20:53
