Common scams to know
- "Free followers/likes" QR codes — shown in a post or story, claiming to boost your social media account. These almost always lead to a fake login page designed to steal your actual account credentials.
- "Free in-game currency" QR codes — Robux, V-Bucks, game skins, or other in-game items "for free" if you scan and log in somewhere. Real games do not give away currency this way.
- Fake giveaway/contest codes — a QR code claiming you've won something, asking you to scan and "verify" your identity or pay a small "shipping fee" to claim it.
Why these scams specifically target QR codes
A QR code hides its destination until you've already scanned it — see our full explainer on quishing for how this works generally. On social media specifically, a QR code shown in a video or story feels casual and low-stakes, exactly the moment scammers count on you not stopping to think it through.
Simple rules that actually help
- If it's free and requires a login, it's not real. Legitimate platforms don't give away followers, in-game currency, or prizes through a random scan.
- Never enter your actual username and password after scanning a code from social media. If a scanned page looks like a login screen for an app you already use, close it and open the real app separately instead.
- Check with a friend before scanning something exciting-looking. Scammers rely on excitement overriding caution — a second opinion catches almost everything.
For parents
This is a different pattern than what targets older adults (see our guide for seniors) — the hook here is excitement and social validation (followers, in-game status) rather than urgency or fear. A useful, low-friction habit: encourage your kid to check anything "free" with you or with CheckThisQR before scanning, framed as a normal step rather than a punishment or restriction.