Organised Crime Drives Surge in QR Code Scams

There has been a significant increase in QR code scams across the UK, with reports of fraudulent codes targeting contactless payment areas, particularly in car parks and restaurants. Action Fraud reported a surge from 100 cases in 2019 to 1,386 in 2023, highlighting the drastic rise in scams that trick victims into providing sensitive bank details. In Somerset alone, police recorded 71 QR code scam incidents from 2019 to 2024, with the highest spike occurring in 2024. Experts warn that many of these scams are organized crime operations, resulting in substantial financial losses for victims. Local authorities, such as those in Cheltenham, are actively removing fake codes and advising the public to be vigilant while using QR codes for payments. Katherine Hart from Trading Standards emphasized that the true extent of the issue is likely underreported and represents a global challenge.