Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced plans to enhance collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to combat the spread of fake QR codes, particularly those circulating on online selling platforms.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. stated that the PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) will intensify efforts to identify groups and individuals responsible for using fake QR codes to deceive online buyers and sellers. The group will leverage its expertise and mechanisms to trace and identify those involved in these fraudulent activities.
Gen. Nartatez emphasized the need to tackle this issue, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.'s directive, under the guidance of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, to enhance the government's campaign against cyber-enabled crimes and online fraud. QR codes are meant to simplify payment transactions on online platforms, but criminals are exploiting them to scam the public.
Authorities have previously warned against QR code phishing, known as 'quishing,' where malicious QR codes redirect victims to fake websites designed to steal personal information and banking credentials. Cybercriminals replace legitimate payment codes with fake QR codes to divert funds to fraudulent accounts.
The PNP chief urged the public to exercise caution before scanning any QR code and to verify that the code is from a legitimate source. He called on the public to report suspicious QR codes to law enforcement authorities to stop the scheme.
PNP-ACG chief Maj. Gen. Wilson Asueta also encouraged users to verify QR codes and ensure they come from legitimate sources. He warned the public to be vigilant and think before scanning QR codes to avoid falling victim to cybercriminals.
Asueta noted reports of individuals being lured into giving personal and financial information after scanning fake QR codes. He stressed the importance of remaining vigilant as scams evolve with technology trends.
