I have heard of fake QR stickers placed over shop codes; how do I protect my customers?

How the trick works

A scammer prints a code that opens a page they control and sticks it over yours on a table, a door or a parking sign. The sticker is the same size, the customer sees the usual black and white squares, and nothing looks off. After the scan there might be a fake payment page, a login request or an app download link. You did nothing wrong, but it is your shop's reputation that suffers.

What to do in the shop

1. Print the address each code opens underneath it in clear type, such as example.com/menu. A customer who sees a different address on their phone will stop.
2. Have your codes open your own domain, not obscure short links. A familiar address is easier to compare.
3. Add a check to your closing routine: run a finger over each displayed code, since an extra sticker has a raised edge you can feel, and scan a sample with your phone.
4. Print codes inside a design or frame that is hard to cover with an ordinary sticker, or mount them behind a fixed clear panel.
5. Never let any code in your shop ask for a card number or a password. Tell customers so on a small sign if this scam is common in your area.

How the tool helps you compare

When you make your code in the QR code generator, the 'What is stored inside the code' box shows what your genuine code holds, character for character, and the 'Copy the content' button copies it. Save that text in your notes. During your checks, scan the displayed code and compare what your phone shows with the saved text. Any difference, even a single character, means it is not your code.

If you find a fake sticker

• Remove it at once, and keep a photo of it along with the address it opens.
• Check the other codes in the shop, since a scammer rarely stops at one.
• Report what you found to the relevant authorities, and warn customers on your accounts if anyone may have been affected.