OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — As the holiday gets closer, scam artists are working overtime trying to take advantage of you.
Deputy Tara Hardin with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office says scammers are trying to gain additional information about you or gain access to your device.
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“There are several scams that really increase this time of year,” said Deputy Hardin.
Deputy Hardin said fraudsters are mailing packages to homes with gifts inside, along with a QR code. This particular scam is called “brushing.”
“We’re all receiving packages this time of year, so it’s no surprise that you might receive a package that you weren’t expecting or you think it’s a gift. Inside this package to indicate who sent you the gift is a QR code that you’re supposed to scan for additional information,” said Deputy Hardin.
When scanning the QR code, it installs a virus on your phone, gaining access to personal information like passwords used to get into your email or banking apps.