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Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.

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New Scam

MarkMark
in Off-Topic
or at least it's he first time I've heard of this one.

It's called 'brushing"

Brushing is when someone receives an unexpected package delivery that has the recipient's address but not the sender's information, OR it seems to be from a known retailer.

When opened, the package will include an item and a QR code to scan to "find out who sent the gift."Once the code is scanned by a phone, the scammer will have access to all the data on that device including personal and financial information.

FWIW

Comments

  • hank
    edited November 27
    Scary. I haven’t yet figured out how to scan anything with my phone. In this case, at least, ignorance is bliss.

    Recently some security professionals have recommended family members assign themselves a secret password known only to them to confirm who they really are in phone / televideo messaging. That’s because AI deep-fakes have gotten so good someone else might appear to look and sound exactly like your child, spouse, parent or sibling. So before engaging in any conversation, make them verify their identity with the secret family password.
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    So glad that we don't have a "smart"phone. Can't scan anything. Don't want to scan anything.
  • Ben
    Me too. Got a cheap flip phone. It makes and receives phone calls.
    Old_Joe said:

    So glad that we don't have a "smart"phone. Can't scan anything. Don't want to scan anything.

  • Observant1
    edited November 28
    I'm not familiar with this particular QR code scam.
    Unfortunately, new scams seem to spring up like mushrooms in the damp Pacific Northwest.

    The Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides some good information about this topic.
    BBB Scam Alert

    Let's be careful out there!
    Link
  • CrashCrash
    Slimy criminal scum.
  • BenWPBenWP
    I can scan a code in a restaurant for the menu, but what shows up on the screen is so small I can’t read it. We ask for a real menu at that point.
  • BaluBalu
    Consider posting useful (PSA) info like this in the main forum. I am a recent and infrequent visitor to off-Topic category and I suspect many MFO members are like that as well.
  • Observant1
    edited November 30
    Although this is useful information, it is not directly related to mutual funds or investing.
    In my opinion, content of this nature belongs in the Off-Topic category.
    Perhaps you could visit Off-Topic more frequently to discover potential items of interest?
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    All the cool guys hang out in OT !
  • Observant1
    edited November 30
    What am I doing here? :-)
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    Hey man- you be cool !
  • BaluBalu
    edited November 30
    Unlike you cool guys, I do not have self control on indulgences and try not to visit OT, which I discovered only recently.

    We should have a thread, without discussion, in the main forum for PSAs, allowing only one of the chosen ones (moderators) to post.
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