India is facing a ‘QR code crisis’ and no one is taking it seriously

Could a QR code put your privacy at risk? You see them everywhere, from restaurant tables to payment counters to street ads. QR codes have become part of our daily routines, especially in India where UPI adoption has driven digitisation of payments that were earlier cash-centric. But behind the convenience, there is a less obvious risk. Scammers have found clever ways to use these little squares to target people who only want quick access to information or an easy way to pay.

Growing risk of QR code scams

QR code adoption in India and around the world grew quickly in the last few years.