QR Code Safety: A Simple Guide for Seniors

Why this matters

According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), more than 201,000 Americans aged 60 and older reported losses exceeding $7.7 billion to fraud in 2025, with an average loss per victim exceeding $38,000. Scammers specifically target older adults because they know that not everyone grew up around QR codes, smartphones, and constant digital scrutiny — and that's a completely reasonable thing to be less familiar with. This page exists so a QR code doesn't become one more thing to worry about.

Three simple rules — that's really it

1. If you weren't expecting it, don't scan it. A real business, bank, or government agency will never require you to scan a surprise QR code to avoid a penalty or claim a prize. If something arrived unexpectedly with a QR code attached, that alone is reason enough to ignore it.
2. Never enter a password or payment information right after scanning, without pausing first. Taking thirty extra seconds to think never hurt anyone, and a legitimate page will still be there in thirty seconds.
3. It is always okay to ask someone before scanning. A family member, a store employee, or a librarian — asking "does this look right to you?" costs nothing and catches most problems immediately.

If you're ever unsure

You can use CheckThisQR to check a code without needing to understand anything technical about it. Point your camera at the code, or upload a photo of it — the site will tell you in plain words whether it looks safe, and you decide what to do next. There is no account to create and nothing to install.

For family members

If you're helping an older family member navigate this, the most useful thing you can do is make it genuinely easy and judgment-free for them to reach you with a quick "is this okay?" question — before anything is scanned or clicked, not after. Bookmarking CheckThisQR on their phone's home screen gives them a low-stakes first step they can take on their own, without needing to track you down first.