Sky warns customers of disastrous TV mistake that could cost you

SKY has warned its customers over a scheme to fleece customers out of hard earned cash via rogue QR codes.

The broadcaster uses QR codes to help customers sign up for new apps – but these nifty links have been hijacked by con artists.

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Hackers are increasingly using QR codes to steal people’s data and money, according to a report by HP Wolf Security, published earlier this year.

Between October 2022 and March of this year, the security team witnessed new QR code “scan scam” campaigns emerge almost daily.

Most people use the QR code scanner that is part of the camera on their Apple or Android phone.

But these schemes trick people into scanning QR codes from their PCs using their mobile devices, which then redirect victims to malicious websites asking for credit and debit card details.

“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,” Sky explained in a help forum.

“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.”

It’s also possible that scammers may impersonate Sky seeking payment for a subscription, or even offering a deal that might seem too good to be true.

Sky has urged that it will only prompt customers to scan a QR code on official Sky pages – and not through emails or non-Sky sites.

“We’d advise you to only use your phone’s camera when scanning QR codes on Sky pages,” the company added.

Downloading QR scanning apps can put you at risk of installing a malicious app onto your device.

So, it’s best to use your Android or iPhone’s in-built QR scanner, which can be found in the camera app.

All you need to do is hover the camera over the QR code and click the link that appears in the app.

If your device doesn’t have QR code scanning capabilities, Sky has encouraged following the link the old fashioned way.

“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,” the company said.

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