As they say: “no news is good news” and nothing was noted in Upton this month.
The group is now officially registered and if you would like to be formally part of the group and
receive local updates, do join using this link
To raise our profile within the village, we are hoping to install some signs and to have a presence
at the Village Fete on 6th September.
The latest edition of Which? ScamAlerts highlighted fraudulent QR codes, known as
quishing scams. QR codes are two-dimensional patterns of small black and white squares that can
be created by anyone. While many are harmless, some act as gateways into a scammer’s trap.
Fake codes are most commonly found in car parks as sneaky stickers placed on payment machines,
according to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre. Scam QR codes have
also been found on online shopping platforms, with sellers receiving dodgy QR codes via email to
verify their accounts or to receive payments for sold items. Some reports revealed scams
impersonating HMRC and other UK government bodies. Action Fraud issued a warning after
revealing that £3.5m was lost to reported QR code scams in 2024.
Before scanning a QR code, you should:
• look for tampering – does the QR code look like it has been stuck over something? If you’re not
sure, enter the website address manually and avoid scanning the code;
• preview the website address before following it.
When you scan a QR code, you should see the address pop up before you’re redirected to it.
Check the address to make sure it corresponds to the address you were expecting;
• avoid scanning QR codes in public places, such as car parks. Look for alternative ways to carry
out the task. If it’s a car park, there should be information about other ways to pay;
• try to avoid using a QR code to make a payment;
• avoid QR code scanning apps, as they can increase the risk of downloading malware or
being redirected to a misleading advert. Most mobile devices have QR code readers within the
phone’s camera, so use that to scan QR codes instead.
• avoid scanning QR codes in emails, as these could be used by scammers to disguise phishing
links.
If you lose any money to a scam, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your
bank card and report it to Action Fraud.
Our next meeting will be in September (date to be confirmed) and as ever, all are welcome .