New Delhi: In India, WhatsApp has almost 400 million users, and the UPI, or Unified Payment Interface, allows you to pay using bank accounts on your smartphone. When you integrate both of these systems, users experience payment convenience like no other.
However, its success has piqued the curiosity of criminals and scammers, who have devised new methods of forcing individuals to pay out of their own pockets, without any compulsion. Scammers use the QR code payment method and send it via WhatsApp to people involved in the sale or purchase of an item to do this.
So, it’s now known as the WhatsApp QR code scam, and we’ll explain how it works and how to avoid being defrauded using this payment method.
Key things to know about QR Code scam:
If you buy things from online marketplaces, you may be asked to provide your bank account information in order to transfer money or to send the QR code for their account in order to complete the transaction.
This payment is made using a QR code that is provided to your mobile phone over WhatsApp.
When you need to pay someone, you usually raise your QR code; when you need to collect money, you don’t require the other person’s QR code.
Scammers use this technique to deceive the buyer and send their QR code, which the customer then uses to pay for the goods they are selling. Instead of getting money, the fraudster can steal it from you.
QR codes are generated for each account, and if any unknown source or sender shares their QR code with you, make sure you check before sending the money, and also cross-check if the amount is right, so the scammer does not take additional money out of your bank account.
WhatsApp is popular and widely used throughout the country, but situations like these require you to abandon such digital techniques.
Live TV
#mute
';
$('div.listing').append(string);
}
});
},
error:function(xhr){
//console.log("Error");
//console.log("An error occured: " + xhr.status + " " + xhr.statusText);
nextload=false;
},
complete: function(){
$('div.listing').find(".loading-block").remove();;
pg +=1;
//console.log("mod" + ice%2);
nextpath="&page=" + pg;
//console.log("request complete" + nextpath);
cat = "?cat=120581";
//console.log(nextpath);
nextload=(ice%2==0)?true:false;
}
});
}
//lastoff = last.offset();
//console.log("**" + lastoff + "**");
});*/
var maindiv = false;
var dis = 0;
var fbcontainer="";
var fbid = '';
var fb_script=document.createElement('script');
fb_script.text= "(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));";
var fmain = $(".sr2456271");
//alert(x+ "-" + url);
var fdiv = '
';
//console.log(fdiv);
//$(fb_script).appendTo(fmain);
$(fdiv).appendTo(fmain);
function fillElementWithAd($el, slotCode, size, targeting){
if (typeof targeting === 'undefined') {
targeting = {};
} else if ( Object.prototype.toString.call( targeting ) !== '[object Object]' ) {
targeting = {};
}
var elId = $el.attr('id');
//console.log("elId:" + elId);
googletag.cmd.push(function(){
var slot = googletag.defineSlot(slotCode, size, elId);
for (var t in targeting){
slot.setTargeting(t, targeting
}
slot.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.display(elId);
//googletag.pubads().refresh([slot]);
});
}
$(document).delegate("button[id^='mf']", "click", function(){
fbcontainer="";
fbid = '#' + $(this).attr('id');
var sr = fbid.replace("#mf", ".sr");
$(fbid).parent().children(sr).toggle();
fbcontainer = $(fbid).parent().children(sr).children(".fb-comments").attr("id");
});
function onPlayerStateChange(event){
var ing, fid;
//console.log(event + "---player");
$('iframe[id*="video-"]').each(function(){
_v = $(this).attr('id');
//console.log("_v: " + _v);
if(_v != event){
//console.log("condition match");
ing = new YT.get(_v);
if(ing.getPlayerState()=='1'){
ing.pauseVideo();
}
}
});
$('div[id*="video-"]').each(function(){
_v = $(this).attr('id');
//console.log("_v: " + _v + " event: " + event);
if(_v != event){
//jwplayer(_v).play(false);
}
});
}
function onYouTubePlay(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid){
if (typeof(YT) == 'undefined' || typeof(YT.Player) == 'undefined') {
var tag = document.createElement('script');
tag.src = "https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api";
var firstScriptTag = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
firstScriptTag.parentNode.insertBefore(tag, firstScriptTag);
window.onYouTubePlayerAPIReady = function() {
onYouTubePlayer(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid);
};
}else{onYouTubePlayer(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid);}
}
function onYouTubePlayer(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid){
//console.log(playDiv + "Get Youtue " + vid);
//$("#"+vid).find(".playvideo-"+ vx).hide();
var player = new YT.Player(playDiv , {
height: '450',
width: '100%',
videoId:code,
playerVars: {
'autoplay': 1,
'showinfo': 1,
'controls': 1
},
events: {
'onStateChange': function(event){
onPlayerStateChange(event.target.a.id);
}
}
});
$("#video-"+vid).show();
}
function kalturaPlayerAPIReady(code, playDiv,pvid){
var dt=new Date;
var nt=dt.getTime();
var vtitle = "";
var video_id_arr = code.split("https://zeenews.india.com/");
var youbora_video_id = video_id_arr[5].split(".");
var youbora_video_id = '"' + youbora_video_id[0] + '"';
pre_roll = "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/11440465/Zeenews_English_Video/Zeenews_English_Preroll&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&description_url="+vtitle+"&correlator="+nt;
var sources ={};
var config = {
targetId: playDiv,
provider: {
partnerId: 2504201
},
playback: {
pictureInPicture : true,
autoplay: true
},
advertising: {
adBreaks: [{
position: 0,
ads: [{
url: [pre_roll]
}]
}]
},
plugins: {
youbora: {
options: {
"content.title": "WhatsApp QR Code Scam: Here’s what you need to know to stay safe",
"content.customDimension.1":"Zee News",
"content.customDimension.2":"https://zeenews.india.com/",
"content.customDimension.3":"2022-Apr-22 16:42:33",
"content.customDimension.4":"SHUBHAM SINGH",
"content.customDimension.5":"2456271",
"content.customDimension.6":"Technology,WhatsApp QR Code Scam,WhatsApp QR Code,WhatsApp Scams,Whatsapp",
"content.id":youbora_video_id,
"content.language":"English"
}
},
ima: {
adsResponse: ""
}
}
}
var kalturaPlayer = KalturaPlayer.setup(config);
if(kalturaPlayer){
kalturaPlayer.reset();
}
var videoUrl = code;
var mediaid = '"zn' + pvid + '"';
sources = {
hls: [{
id: mediaid,
url: videoUrl,
mimetype: "application/x-mpegURL"
}]
}
kalturaplayerSetup(kalturaPlayer, sources);
if (typeof kalturaPlayer !== 'undefined') {
doRegisterEvents(kalturaPlayer);
}
}
function kalturaplayerSetup(kalturaPlayer, playbackType){
kalturaPlayer.setMedia({
plugins: {},
sources: playbackType
});
}
function doRegisterEvents(kalturaPlayer) {
/* player event*/
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.Core.PLAY, playEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.Core.PAUSE, pauseEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.Core.PLAYBACK_ENDED, playbackEndedEvent);
/* ad event */
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_STARTED, adStartedEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_COMPLETED, adCompletedEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_SKIPPED, adSkippedEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_CLICKED,adClicked);
}
var vlabel = "https://zeenews.india.com"+$(this).attr("video-path");
var isVideoPlayed = false;
var isAdSkippedCompleted = false;
function adStartedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adstarted', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
gtag('event', 'Play', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isVideoPlayed = true;
isAdSkippedCompleted = true;
}
function adCompletedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adcompleted', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isAdSkippedCompleted = true;
}
function adSkippedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adskipped', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isAdSkippedCompleted = true;
}
function adClicked(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adclicked', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}
function playbackEndedEvent(event){
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Complete', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}
function playEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
if((isVideoPlayed) && (isAdSkippedCompleted)){
isAdSkippedCompleted = false;
}else if((isVideoPlayed)){
gtag('event', 'resume', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}else{
gtag('event', 'Play', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isVideoPlayed = true;
}
}
function pauseEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Pause', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}
function AdloadEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag("event", "kaltura_adloaded", { "event_category": videotype, "event_label": vlabel});
}
function AdProgressEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag("event", "kaltura_adprogress", { "event_category": videotype, "event_label": vlabel});
}
function adPausedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag("event", "kaltura_adpaused", { "event_category": videotype, "event_label": vlabel});
}
/* End of Kaltura player function code */
$(document).delegate("div[id^='play']", "click", function(){
//console.log($(this).attr("id"));
//console.log($(this).attr("video-source"));
//console.log($(this).attr("video-code"));
var isyoutube = $(this).attr("video-source");
var vurl = $(this).attr("video-path");
var vid = $(this).attr("id");
$(this).hide();
var pvid = $(this).attr("newsid");
var vx = $(this).attr("id").replace('play-','');
var vC = $(this).attr("video-code");
var playDiv = "video-" + vid + "-" + pvid;
if(isyoutube =='No'){
kalturaPlayerAPIReady(vC, playDiv,pvid);
}else{
onYouTubePlay(vid, vC, playDiv,vx, pvid);
}
});
$(document).delegate("div[id^='ptop']", "click", function(){
var vid = $(this).attr("id").replace('ptop','');
$(this).hide();
var pvid = $(this).attr("newsid");
var vurl = $(this).attr("video-path");
//console.log($(this).attr("id") + "--" + vid);
//console.log($(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-source"));
//console.log($(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-code"));
var isyoutube = $(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-source");
var vC = $(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-code");
var playDiv = "mvideo-play-" + vid + "-" + pvid;
if(isyoutube =='No'){
//console.log(jwplayer($(this).attr("id")).getState());
kalturaPlayerAPIReady(vC, playDiv,pvid);
}else{
onYouTubePlay($(this).attr("id"), vC, playDiv, vid, pvid);
}
});
var nxti = 3;
var ci = 1;
var nxti_1 = 6;
var nxti_2 = 9;
var nxti_3 = 12;
if($.autopager==false){
var use_ajax = false;
/*var disqus_shortname="zeehindi";
var disqus_identifier; //made of post id and guid
var disqus_url; //post permalink
function loadDisqus(source, identifier, url, nid) {
if (window.DISQUS) {
//alert("if");
jQuery('
').insertAfter(source);
jQuery('#disqus_thread').insertAfter(source); //append the HTML after the link
//if Disqus exists, call it's reset method with new parameters
DISQUS.reset({
reload: true,
config: function () {
this.page.identifier = identifier;
this.page.url = url;
}
});
}else{
jQuery('
').insertAfter(source);
disqus_identifier = identifier; //set the identifier argument
disqus_url = url; //set the permalink argument
//append the Disqus embed script to HTML
var dsq = document.createElement('script'); dsq.type="text/javascript"; dsq.async = true;
dsq.src="http://" + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/embed.js';
jQuery('head').append(dsq);
}
};*/
/*$('.disqusOn').live( "click", notify );
function notify() {
identifier = $(this).attr('id');
dUrl = $(this).attr('disqus-url');
source = $(this).parent();
loadDisqus(jQuery(this), identifier, dUrl);
}*/
function loadshare(curl){
history.replaceState('' ,'', curl);
if(window.OBR){
window.OBR.extern.researchWidget();
}
//console.log("loadshare Call->" + curl);
//$('html head').find('title').text("main" + nxtTitle);
if(_up == false){
var cu_url = curl;
gtag('config', 'UA-2069755-1', {'page_path': cu_url });
if(window.COMSCORE){
window.COMSCORE.beacon({c1: "2", c2: "9254297"});
var e = Date.now();
$.ajax({
url: "/marathi/news/zscorecard.json?" + e,
success: function(e) {}
})
}
//console.log('ga:'+r);
/*(function () {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type="text/javascript"; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://' : 'http://') + 'stats.g.doubleclick.net/dc.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();*/
//console.log("loadshare Call");
}
}
if(use_ajax==false) {
//console.log('getting');
var view_selector="div.center-section"; // + settings.view_name; + '.view-display-id-' + settings.display;
var content_selector = view_selector; // + settings.content_selector;
var items_selector = content_selector + ' > div.rep-block'; // + settings.items_selector;
var pager_selector="div.next-story-block > div.view-zn-article-mc-all-2017 > div.view-content > div.clearfix"; // + settings.pager_selector;
var next_selector="div.next-story-block > div.view-zn-article-mc-all-2017 > div.view-content > div.clearfix > a:last"; // + settings.next_selector;
var auto_selector="div.tag-block";
var img_location = view_selector + ' > div.rep-block:last';
var img_path="
"; //settings.img_path;
//var img = '
' + img_path + '
';
var img = img_path;
//$(pager_selector).hide();
//alert($(next_selector).attr('href'));
var x = 0;
var url="";
var prevLoc = window.location.pathname;
var circle = "";
var myTimer = "";
var interval = 30;
var angle = 0;
var Inverval = "";
var angle_increment = 6;
var handle = $.autopager({
appendTo: content_selector,
content: items_selector,
runscroll: maindiv,
link: next_selector,
autoLoad: false,
page: 0,
start: function(){
$(img_location).after(img);
circle = $('.center-section').find('#green-halo');
myTimer = $('.center-section').find('#myTimer');
angle = 0;
Inverval = setInterval(function (){
$(circle).attr("stroke-dasharray", angle + ", 20000");
//myTimer.innerHTML = parseInt(angle/360*100) + '%';
if (angle >= 360) {
angle = 1;
}
angle += angle_increment;
}.bind(this),interval);
},
load: function(){
$('div.loading-block').remove();
clearInterval(Inverval);
//$('.repeat-block > .row > div.main-rhs2456271').find('div.rhs2456271:first').clone().appendTo('.repeat-block >.row > div.main-rhs' + x);
$('div.rep-block > div.main-rhs2456271 > div:first').clone().appendTo('div.rep-block > div.main-rhs' + x);
$('.center-section >.row:last').before('
Next Story
');
//$(".main-rhs" + x).theiaStickySidebar();
var fb_script=document.createElement('script');
fb_script.text= "(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));";
var fmain = $(".sr"+ x);
//alert(x+ "-" + url);
var fdiv = '
';
//$(fb_script).appendTo(fmain);
$(fdiv).appendTo(fmain);
FB.XFBML.parse();
var $dfpAd = $('.center-section').children().find("#ad-"+ x);
xp = "#star"+x;
//var $dfpAdrhs = $('.main-rhs' + x).children().find('.adATF').empty().attr("id", "ad-300-" + x); //$('.content-area > .main-article > .row > .main-rhs'+x).find('#ad-300-' + x);
//var $dfpAdrhs2 = $('.main-rhs' + x).children().find('.adBTF').empty().attr("id", "ad-300-2-" + x);//$('.content-area > .main-article > .row > .main-rhs'+x).find('#ad-300-2-' + x);
//var $dfpMiddleAd = $('.content-area > .main-article > .row').find('#ar'+x).find('#ad-middle-' + x).empty();
//fillElementWithAd($dfpAdrhs, '/11440465/Zeenews_English_Web/Zeenews_English_AS_ATF_300x250', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], {});
//fillElementWithAd($dfpAdrhs2, '/11440465/Zeenews_English_Web/Zeenews_English_AS_BTF_1_300x250', [300, 250], {});
//fillElementWithAd($dfpMiddleAd, '/11440465/Zeenews_Hindi_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF', [300, 250], {});
var instagram_script=document.createElement('script');
instagram_script.defer="defer";
instagram_script.async="async";
instagram_script.src="https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js";
/*var outbrain_script=document.createElement('script');
outbrain_script.type="text/javascript";
outbrain_script.async="async";
outbrain_script.src="https://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js";
var Omain = $("#outbrain-"+ x);
//alert(Omain + "--" + $(Omain).length);
$(Omain).after(outbrain_script);
var rhs = $('.main-article > .row > div.article-right-part > div.rhs2456271:first').clone();
$(rhs).find('.ad-one').attr("id", "ad-300-" + x).empty();
$(rhs).find('.ad-two').attr("id", "ad-300-2-" + x).empty();
//$('.main-article > .row > div.article-right-part > div.rhs2456271:first').clone().appendTo('.main-article > .row > div.main-rhs' + x);
$(rhs).appendTo('.main-article > .row > div.main-rhs' + x); */
setTimeout(function(){
var twit = $("div.field-name-body").find('blockquote[class^="twitter"]').length;
var insta = $("div.field-name-body").find('blockquote[class^="instagram"]').length;
if(twit==0){twit = ($("div.field-name-body").find('twitterwidget[class^="twitter"]').length);}
if(twit>0){
if (typeof (twttr) != 'undefined') {
twttr.widgets.load();
} else {
$.getScript('https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js');
}
//$(twit).addClass('tfmargin');
}
if(insta>0){
$('.content > .left-block:last').after(instagram_script);
//$(insta).addClass('tfmargin');
window.instgrm.Embeds.process();
}
}, 1500);
}
});
/*$("#loadmore").click(function(){
x=$(next_selector).attr('id');
var url = $(next_selector).attr('href');
disqus_identifier="ZNH" + x;
disqus_url = url;
handle.autopager('load');
history.pushState('' ,'', url);
setTimeout(function(){
//twttr.widgets.load();
//loadDisqus(jQuery(this), disqus_identifier, disqus_url);
}, 6000);
});*/
/*$("button[id^='mf']").live("click", disqusToggle);
function disqusToggle() {
console.log("Main id: " + $(this).attr('id'));
}*/
$(document).delegate("button[id^='mf']", "click", function(){
fbcontainer="";
fbid = '#' + $(this).attr('id');
var sr = fbid.replace("#mf", ".sr");
//console.log("Main id: " + $(this).attr('id') + "Goodbye!jQuery 1.4.3+" + sr);
$(fbid).parent().children(sr).toggle();
fbcontainer = $(fbid).parent().children(sr).children(".fb-comments").attr("id");
//console.log(fbcontainer);
//var commentsContainer = document.getElementById(fbcontainer);
//commentsContainer.innerHTML = '
';
});
/************Player Code ***********/
var title, imageUrl, description, author, shortName, identifier, timestamp, summary, newsID, nextnews;
var previousScroll = 0;
//console.log("prevLoc" + prevLoc);
$(window).scroll(function(){
var last = $(auto_selector).filter(':last');
var lastHeight = last.offset().top ;
//st = $(layout).scrollTop();
//console.log("st:" + st);
var currentScroll = $(this).scrollTop();
if (currentScroll > previousScroll){
_up = false;
} else {
_up = true;
}
previousScroll = currentScroll;
//console.log("_up" + _up);
var cutoff = $(window).scrollTop() + 64;
//console.log(cutoff + "**");
$('div[id^="row"]').each(function(){
//console.log("article" + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr("id") + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url'));
if($(this).offset().top + $(this).height() > cutoff){
//console.log("$$" + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url'));
if(prevLoc != $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url')){
prevLoc = $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url');
$('html head').find('title').text($(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-title'));
$('meta[name=description]').attr("content",$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-summary'));
$('meta[name=keywords]').attr("content",$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-keyword'));
$('meta[name=news_keywords]').attr("content",$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-keyword'));
pSUPERFLY.virtualPage(prevLoc,$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-title'));
//console.log("Summary: " + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-summary'));
//console.log("Keyword: " + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-keyword'));
//history.pushState('' ,'', prevLoc);
loadshare(prevLoc);
}
return false; // stops the iteration after the first one on screen
}
});
if(lastHeight + last.height() < $(document).scrollTop() + $(window).height()){
//console.log("**get");
url = $(next_selector).attr('href');
x=$(next_selector).attr('id');
//console.log("x:" + x);
//handle.autopager('load');
/*setTimeout(function(){
//twttr.widgets.load();
//loadDisqus(jQuery(this), disqus_identifier, disqus_url);
}, 6000);*/
}
//lastoff = last.offset();
//console.log("**" + lastoff + "**");
});
//$( ".content-area" ).click(function(event) {
// console.log(event.target.nodeName);
//});
/*$( ".comment-button" ).live("click", disqusToggle);
function disqusToggle() {
var id = $(this).attr("id");
$("#disqus_thread1" + id).toggle();
};*/
//$(".main-rhs2456271").theiaStickySidebar();
var prev_content_height = $(content_selector).height();
//$(function() {
var layout = $(content_selector);
var st = 0;
///});
}
}
});
/*}
};*/
})(jQuery);
,