A surge in scam texts pretending to be Amazon offers refunds and steals personal information, with attacks increasing over 50 times in recent weeks. Amazon and the FTC warn users to verify messages through official channels, avoid clicking links, and report scams to protect their accounts from organized criminal gangs behind these widespread impersonation schemes.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning about the increasing use of QR codes in scams that aim to gain control of smartphones, make fraudulent charges, or obtain personal information. Scammers are exploiting the trust placed in QR codes by pasting fake codes over legitimate ones, leading users to malicious websites or installing malware. The FTC advises users to verify the official URL of the site or service before entering sensitive information, be cautious of QR codes embedded in emails, and avoid installing standalone QR code scanners on phones.