- Quishing is a new scam combining QR codes and phishing, where fraudsters use malicious QR codes to trick individuals into revealing sensitive data or downloading malware.
- Action Fraud reported nearly £3.5 million was lost to quishing between April 2024 and April 2025, with experts suggesting this figure is likely an underestimate and rising.
- Car parks are identified as a primary hotspot for quishing, with fraudsters placing fake QR code stickers on payment machines, as confirmed by council reports across the UK.
- Victims of quishing can face severe consequences, ranging from financial losses and identity theft to being locked out of their accounts and incurring additional charges.
- To avoid quishing, users should pause before scanning, use their phone's built-in QR scanner, be wary of tampered codes, and always verify URLs before entering personal or payment information.
IN FULL
Beware the QR code: How a new scam is costing consumers £10,000 per day
