Hi, I'm Sage. Well done for scanning!
Gotcha! That was a fake QR code.
Don't worry. This one is ours and your phone is completely safe. But a real criminal could have used a code just like it to trick you.
Did you spot the clues?
The Final Challenge poster had four warning signs.
A sticker on top of another code
Criminals stick their own QR code over a real one, on parking machines, posters and menus. If a code looks stuck on, be careful.
A prize that sounds too good
"WIN A PRIZE!" is one of the oldest tricks there is.
Hurry, hurry!
"Closes in 10 minutes" is there to stop you thinking. Real offers give you time.
No web address
There was nothing to tell you where the code would take you.
Before you scan any QR code
Look at the code
Is it a sticker? Does it look out of place?
Check the link first
Most phones show the web address before opening it. Does it look right?
Never type passwords or pay
Not on a page you reached from a QR code you're not sure about. Go to the real website or app yourself instead.
Ask a grown-up if you're not sure
Grown-ups: ask someone you trust.
Fun fact
Tricking people with fake QR codes has a name: quishing (QR + phishing).