A plastic bag found in the street: this scam can cost you dearly

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Decidedly, criminals will not shy away from any trick to deceive the vigilance of their targets. The latest example is provided to us by the Spanish newspaper La Razon which reports a rather unusual fraud.

Cryptocurrencies as bait

The Catalan Cybersecurity Agency has indeed alerted citizens to the presence of plastic envelopes containing falsified documents and malicious QR Codes. The latter have been spotted in several cities in Spain and are abandoned on public roads to attract the attention of passers-by.

The targets find fake cryptocurrency purchase receipts inside and if they scan the QR Code, their smartphone is then exposed to the installation of malware. Cybercriminals can then access their personal data, passwords and bank details without the user even realizing it.

This is a rather original technique described as hybrid by the Catalan authorities. Indeed, they combine physical and digital means in order to better deceive the inhabitants of the areas concerned.

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It goes without saying that you should never scan QR Codes from unknown sources or that are sent to you digitally. Using a protection solution adapted to your needs is always a plus. We have also put together very comprehensive guides on this subject on Android and iOS.

How to avoid the worst ?

As you will have understood, vigilance is more important than ever in the face of this very real threat that could soon materialize in France. To avoid being fooled, it is advisable to carefully read the messages around the QR Codes, which often contain spelling mistakes and some clumsiness. You should also be wary of texts that try to create a sense of urgency or offers that seem too good to be true.

Experts at cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes also advise: “An additional measure you can take is to install a QR code scanner that doesn’t take you to the destination specified in the URL, but displays it for you, so you can decide whether to proceed.”.

Analysts also warn that everyone is at risk: “These addresses would have appeared legitimate to someone who inspected the link before going to the destination. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of these types of phishing emails. They aim to lead victims to malware-infested sites or phishing sites to obtain credentials.” More information about this here.

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