Phishing with fake QR codes on charging stations discovered in Brussels

Scammers have discovered charging stations and specifically their QR codes to extort money from electric drivers. This is reported by the Belgian energy company EnergyVision. They found a fake QR code stuck to several of their charging stations in Brussels. This is used for ad hoc payments.

Phishing via QR codes also has a nickname: ‘Quishing’. It is on the rise now that payments via QR codes are becoming more and more common. EnergyVision has around 2,000 charging stations spread across Brussels and received several reports from people who were victims of the scams. The company shows via LinkedIn that the fake stickers look identical.

Ad hoc payment mandatory at charging stations

VRT NWS reports that all Brussels EnergyVision charging stations have now been checked and that stickers had to be removed from several posts. Ad hoc payment is again possible at all posts, which is also necessary because it is an EU obligation. Nevertheless, most electric motorists use a charging card to pay and EnergyVision also recommends this because it is much more secure.

With phishing via a QR code you will be led to a separate payment site. You can usually quickly see whether it looks official, but some scammers can perfectly fake a payment page. You can therefore also check the URL to see if it looks suspicious. If in doubt, contact the charging station owner and certainly do not press pay.