Ukrainians warned about a fraudulent scheme with QR codes: how to protect yourself.

Ukraine has discovered a new fraudulent scheme involving the substitution of QR codes. This was stated by Oleksandr Ulyanenko, head of the Department for Counteracting Online Fraud of the Cyber Police of Ukraine, during an interview on 'Suspilne'. Fraudsters use forged links to obtain users' banking data, which can lead to financial losses. Ulyanenko urged caution when scanning QR codes and to carefully verify links before entering data.

Criminals substitute QR codes on official information boards or place them in public places. People scanning such codes end up on fake websites that resemble real online services. Using these websites, criminals gain access to banking data and steal money. This most often occurs during parking, payment for public transport, entry to events, or charity contributions.

Ukrainians are warned that it is very difficult to distinguish a counterfeit QR code from the original, so it is important to always check the website address before entering confidential data. To prevent fraud, several rules should be followed, including checking the sticker before scanning and using the link preview feature. It is also necessary to ensure that the site has a secure connection ( When sending personal data, one must be certain of the authenticity of the site. If a suspicious QR code is found, one should inform the establishment's administration, customer support, or law enforcement. For online payments, it is recommended to use virtual or temporary cards to avoid significant financial losses in case of data leaks.

If you become a victim of fraud, you should immediately contact the bank to block your card and file a report with the Cyber Police. Previously, there were reports of theft of users' personal data.