In today’s digital environment, cyber attackers increasingly exploit our trust and curiosity. A single careless click on a link or a quick scan of a QR code can lead to phishing, malware infections, credential theft, or unauthorized access to your personal and business data.
Since you are already here, check this interesting paper coverign the topic:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-80881-4_8
Cybercriminals use:
Deceptive links that look legitimate but lead to malicious websites
Fake QR codes placed over real ones in public spaces
QR phishing (“quishing”) emails or posters that prompt you to log in to fake services
Malware-loaded websites triggered after scanning
Redirects that silently collect sensitive information
These attacks are designed to look authentic, making it difficult to distinguish safe content from malicious traps.