Scan a QR Code to Pay? Check These 3 Things Before Entering Your Card Number

A QR code can lead to a legitimate payment page or a convincing fake, so consumers should inspect the physical code, check the web address, and verify the payment request before entering card information – Shutterstock

A QR code can turn a parking meter, restaurant table, or checkout counter into a payment screen in seconds. That convenience comes with one important catch: the code can send you somewhere you never intended to go, and scammers have gotten creative about making fake payment pages look perfectly ordinary.

The Federal Trade Commission recently warned about scammers placing their own QR codes over legitimate ones on parking meters. A quick scan can lead to a fake website designed to collect payment information or personal details.