oppn parties Quishing: The QR Code Scam Is On The Rise

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  • Allahabad HC said that the UP Police is acting as law unto themselves as they detained a person unlawfully even before his arrest
  • Kolkata witnesses traffic snarls on the first day of the Durga Puja festival as revellers start pnadal-hopping
  • Neha Bora was subsequently released and Dipke is to appear before a magistrate today at noon
  • Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, Neha Bora of AISA, student leaders and supporters ahead of a rally in Connaught Place demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The protest followed the detention and jailing of two CJP leaders earlier in the week over demonstrations at Jantar Mantar
  • The Reserve Bank of India is considering further monetary tightening to counter capital outflows and increase the cost of betting against the rupee, according to bankers and analysts cited by Reuters. The measures follow recent rate increases and steps to drain liquidity as pressure on the currency and inflation concerns persist
  • India directed oil marketing companies to stop diverting sugar-based feedstocks for ethanol production in the 2026–27 supply year, according to a new tender issued on Friday. The companies have invited bids for 11 billion litres of ethanol made from alternatives including corn and broken rice, amid concerns about domestic sugar supplies and prices
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India's trade imbalance with China was growing sharply and attributed the problem partly to restrictions on Indian goods and services entering the Chinese market. China subsequently said it was ready to work with India to address mutual economic and trade concerns; India's trade deficit with China reached $69 billion in the first half of FY2026–27, up 27% year-on-year
  • Indian equity benchmarks extended their recovery on Friday, with the Sensex rising 413.66 points to close at 74,729.27 and the Nifty 50 gaining 148.80 points to settle at 23,146.15. Information technology shares, including Tech Mahindra, Infosys and TCS, helped lift the indices
  • India defeated Zimbabwe by four wickets in the opening women's T20 International in Raipur, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad combined in an 82-run stand after India's top order collapsed, helping the hosts chase down Zimbabwe's total of 114 for five
  • Indian wrestler Komal won bronze in the women's 59 kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, defeating Kazakhstan's Viktoriia Khusainova 7–2. Fellow Indian Amruta Pujari advanced to the women's 72 kg final after recording two pinfall victories
  • Indian shuttler Jagsher Singh Khangurra secured a bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Badminton Championships in Cairo
  • The Supreme Court of India upheld the Bombay High Court's decision quashing the 2020 write-off of ₹8,415 crore in additional tier-1 bonds issued by Yes Bank (Yes Bank). The court ruled that the bank's administrator lacked the authority to extinguish the bonds under the final reconstruction scheme, strengthening bondholders' claims
  • The Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission of India, Delhi Police and opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, in separate petitions concerning electoral-roll revision and protests held in Delhi on October 10–12. The court also directed the preservation of CCTV footage linked to allegations of police excesses
  • The Supreme Court ruled that a person converting from Hinduism to Islam cannot automatically claim backward-class reservation benefits in the new religious community solely on the basis of their previous caste status. The judgment upheld the Madras High Court's decision striking down a 2024 Tamil Nadu government order that permitted such certification for specified communities
  • The Election Commission of India ordered a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 14 states and three Union Territories, using January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date for voter eligibility. The draft rolls are scheduled for publication on November 12, claims and objections will be accepted until December 11, and the final rolls are due on January 4, 2027
Delhi HC refuses to ban CJP's Tiranga rally at Central Park in Connaught Place today /////// Police says will control and regulate it /////// NDMC closes the park for the public on Friday and Saturday
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Quishing: The QR Code Scam Is On The Rise

By Linus Garg
First publised on 2024-09-15 07:44:47

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.

The Rise of Quishing Scams in India: A Growing Threat to Digital Payments

With the surge in digital payments across India, driven by the convenience of platforms like UPI, a new wave of scams has emerged. One particularly concerning method is quishing, a technique that leverages QR codes to trick unsuspecting individuals into sharing their personal and financial information.

What is Quishing?

Quishing, a combination of "QR" and "phishing," involves the use of fraudulent QR codes to redirect users to malicious websites. These websites often impersonate legitimate platforms, such as banks or e-commerce sites, to deceive users into entering their sensitive data.

The Growing Menace

"Quishing is a relatively unknown but rapidly growing problem that exploits QR codes on mobile devices", warns Trevor Cooke, a privacy expert at EarthWeb. 

Quishing attacks are set to grow dramatically, from 0.8% of all email phishing attacks in 2021 to a staggering 10.8% in 2024 according to a recent intelligence report. 

UPI fraud complaints have seen a significant increase in India (from 15,000 cases in 2022 to over 30,000 in 2023), with cases involving QR code scams accounting for a substantial portion.

This trend highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the need for heightened awareness among users.

Beyond UPI: The Broader Risks

Quishing scams are not limited to UPI payments. Scanning any QR code that redirects to a third-party website can pose a risk to your financial security. These codes can be found in various settings, making it essential to exercise caution.

How Quishing Works and Staying Safe

Scammers often employ tactics like requesting victims to scan QR codes that lead to fraudulent websites. These sites may ask for UPI PINs or other personal information under the guise of verification. Once obtained, scammers can gain unauthorized access to bank accounts and siphon off funds.

To protect yourself from quishing scams:

1. Avoid scanning suspicious QR codes.

2. Verify the authenticity of websites.

3. Never share your UPI PIN or personal details.

By staying vigilant and informed, you can help mitigate the risks associated with quishing scams and ensure the security of your digital transactions.

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