Residents of St. Clair County have been put on high alert due to a new scam making rounds, involving a falsely claimed Amazon package and a dangerous QR code. According to a CBS News report, a local resident received a package with a 'gift' they never ordered — a diamond ring. Accompanying the item, was a QR code that, once scanned, installs malware capable of siphoning off sensitive personal data.
The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office advised residents that this malware specifically targets banking and credit card information. In their cautionary social media post, they stated, "When the QR code is scanned, malware is installed in your device, seemingly stealing personal information, including banking and credit card information." This warning, posted on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page, clearly outlines the threat at hand and advises recipients of unusual packages to reach out to their local police department.
This cyber threat is not isolated to St. Clair County alone, as nearby Monroe County residents have reported different but similarly manipulative scams earlier this month. These involved telephonic dupery employing false legal threats and soliciting payments via apps like Venmo or Zelle. It paints a picture of a region under siege by a variety of cyber scams looking, to exploit unwary individuals.
The Sheriff's Office's message comes as a response to the increasing inventiveness of scammers, using technology to breach the safety of personal information. Individuals who come across any such suspicious packages have been strongly urged to avoid scanning any accompanying QR codes and immediately contact local law enforcement.
