QR Code Scams & Quishing: How to Spot Fake QR Codes and Stay Safe Online
Learn how QR phishing (quishing) works, common scam tactics on parking meters and emails, and practical steps to verify a QR code before you scan or tap a link.
11 min readUpdated Apr 8, 2026
QR codes are convenient, but criminals use them to hide malicious links—often called quishing (QR phishing). This guide explains red flags, real-world scam patterns, and how to protect yourself and your customers without giving up legitimate QR campaigns.
What is quishing and why it matters now
Quishing combines QR codes with phishing: attackers place codes that lead to fake login pages, payment portals, or malware downloads. Because the destination URL is hidden until after the scan, users may trust a familiar-looking sticker or email graphic without checking the actual domain.