QR Code scam; Shop keepers in Tirupur defrauded of money pasting fake QR code stickers

Tirupur: The Uthukuli Police have launched a search for the culprits who swindled money by pasting fake QR Code stickers on shop keepers’ original QR Codes.

Based on a series of complaints by the shop keepers, the Tirupur police are on the lookout for the miscreants who stick fake Quick Response (QR) codes on the shops original QR codes to swindle money. Reportedly, two days back, a customer at Duraisamy’s restaurant paid the bill amount scanning the QR Code placed at the restaurant for digital payment, but Duraisamy did not receive the money. Upon scanning second time, the QR Code displayed a different address and the scam came to light. Duraisamy checked with the neighbours, bank, and it was revealed that another QR Code was pasted over the original QR Code. The second one is exactly of same size and it is unable to find a difference between the two. The CCTV recording of the restaurant was scanned. The recording showed an unknown person wearing helmet, cut and paste a QR Code on the restaurant’s original QR code.

Duraisamy, from Sidco next to Mudalipalayam runs a restaurant and fast-food stall. It has come to light that this complaint has been occurring repeatedly in the neighbouring workshops, restaurant and grocery shop. The shopkeepers who are a victim to this incident lodged a complaint with the Uthukuli police station. On receiving the complaint, Uthukuli police are conducting a serious investigation.

While the QR Code has been affixed to the wall and trolley boards in front of the shops for customers to scan for convenience in most stores, this theft has shocked traders. Therefore, the vendors have been instructed not to stick QR Codes outside the shops, but to use a small sized card and use it themselves when customers opt for digital payment.

From large shopping malls to small trolley shops, receiving digital payment from customers through QR Codes is used routinely. This QR codes help faster and direct payment from the payer’s bank and the practice has become normal with those possessing smartphones, bank accounts. The new method of theft has come as a shock to the public and shopkeepers