Sky Ireland customers are being warned of a devious new scam that is being used by cyber thieves to steal money and personal information.
According to Sky, the scam is very easy to fall for and could end with criminals having your account information and full bank details. Currently Sky offers an easier way to set up devices, which involves the use of a QR code which pops up on the screen.
During the set-up stage, this icon is scanned via the camera app on the customer's iPhone or Android smartphone, which helps speed up the sign-in process. However, scammers are now using this QR code to divert customers to fake websites where details such as usernames, passwords and even bank account numbers are stolen.
Sky has issued advice to its customers on how to avoid falling victim to this scam. According to Sky, the problems start when using so-called QR Scanner applications which are often found on the app store and promise to offer more advanced features, and when used it can lead customers to fake websites which can steal their information.
A spokesperson for Sky explained: "Sometimes when you’re signing up for a new app on Sky Q, Sky Glass or Sky Stream, we might ask you to scan a QR code that appears on your screen. This is so we can get you set up faster," the firm explained.
"We’re currently seeing a problem where some customers, who are using third-party QR code scanner apps, are being re-directed to a fake website and having their financial details stolen.
"We’d advise you to only use your phone’s camera when scanning QR codes on Sky pages. If your phone camera does not have a built-in scanner, carefully enter the URL provided next to the QR code into your phone’s browser."
Meanwhile, Sky Ireland is also urging customers to watch out for fake emails and phone calls claiming to be from the company, and it's best to not respond to them if in doubt. According to Sky's website on scams, they said: "They might get in touch by phone, email or text, or through a website or social media, and can often look or sound genuine.
"No matter how you’re contacted, you should always be wary of anything you weren’t expecting."
Sky Ireland customers are advised to only use official apps, beware of fake emails and never reveal your personal details unless you sure that the person you are dealing with is from Sky.
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