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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Phyllis Cha

QR code scams put personal data at risk, FTC warns

The Federal Trade Commission released a consumer alert Dec. 6, warning of QR code scams, where scammers use fraudulent QR codes to send consumers to a harmful link where they can steal personal information. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

QR codes — the black-and-white boxes that ordinarily connect smartphones to legitimate links to track packages and pay bills — can sometimes hide dangerous scams. 

In a blog post published earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission warned that some of the seemingly ordinary QR codes consumers come across every day can send them to harmful links that hoover up personal information.

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