The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a consumer warning about a growing scam involving fake QR codes placed on fraudulent traffic tickets, according to an MSN report. Scammers leave phony parking or toll violation notices on windshields, instructing drivers to scan the QR code to pay the fine. The QR codes instead redirect victims to malicious payment websites that steal financial information.
The FTC advises consumers to verify the legitimacy of any traffic ticket by contacting the local traffic or parking authority directly using official contact information, not the numbers provided on the notice. Officials emphasize that legitimate government agencies do not request payment solely through QR codes or urgent links. The scam has been reported in multiple states, and authorities are investigating.
This alert comes amid a broader rise in QR-code-related fraud, as con artists exploit the widespread familiarity with contactless payments. The FTC recommends that anyone who receives a suspicious traffic ticket should not scan the QR code, and instead report the incident to law enforcement and the FTC's consumer complaint system.