• Advertise
  • Submit a Press Release
NewsBTC
Bitcoin & cryptocurrency news
Crypto.com Logo
  • Home
  • News
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum
    • Cardano
    • Dogecoin
    • Ripple
    • DeFi
    • NFT
    • Sponsored
    • Press Releases
  • Analysis
    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Cardano (ADA)
    • Chainlink (LINK)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Tezos (XTZ)
    • Zcash (ZEC)
    • EOS
    • YearnFinance (YFI)
  • Trading Course
  • Directory
    • Crypto Businesses
    • Bitcoin Brokers
    • Casinos
    • Sportsbooks
  • Play GamesTry
  • Bet & WinTry
  • Spin & WinTry
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum
    • Cardano
    • Dogecoin
    • Ripple
    • DeFi
    • NFT
    • Sponsored
    • Press Releases
  • Analysis
    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Cardano (ADA)
    • Chainlink (LINK)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Tezos (XTZ)
    • Zcash (ZEC)
    • EOS
    • YearnFinance (YFI)
  • Trading Course
  • Directory
    • Crypto Businesses
    • Bitcoin Brokers
    • Casinos
    • Sportsbooks
  • Play GamesTry
  • Bet & WinTry
  • Spin & WinTry
No Result
View All Result
NewsBTC
No Result
View All Result
bitcoin QR
Nexo Logo

Bitcoin QR Code Scams Found Flooding Google Search Pages

Martin Young by Martin Young
3 years ago
in Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency news
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Advertisement

The crypto industry has not been without its fair share of scams and cons. Bitcoin has battled this reputation since its inception and FUD-fueled mainstream media outlets do not help matters. Social media and search giants are equally to blame but that doesn’t stop the Bitcoin bashing.

More Fake Google Results For Bitcoin

Researchers have discovered that the majority of links returned in Google search pages for Bitcoin QR code generators are for fake or scammy websites. Forbes, in its usual Bitcoin-bashing stance, reported that it is just another crypto scam that has hindered adoption.

What it should have reported was that it is a Google scam for allowing these fraudulent links on its search engine in the first place. The study reported that 4 out of the first 5 results presented when querying Google were leading to scammer’s website.

5 BTC + 300 Free Spins for new players & 15 BTC + 35.000 Free Spins every month, only at mBitcasino. Play Now!

According to the researchers from crypto wallet provider ZenGo, the QR codes generated from one of these fake websites will send the Bitcoin to the scammers address. The QR codes are used to capture the data by mobile phone cameras, in this case to quickly share a Bitcoin address. The researchers added;

“These sites generate a QR code that encodes an address controlled by the scammers, instead of the one requested by the user, thus directing all payments for this QR code to the scammers. Scammers do not even bother with generating their fake QR themselves, instead they shamelessly call a blockchain explorer API to generate the QR for their address.”

It has been estimated that around $20,000 has been lost to QR code scams however that figure could be much higher.

Just like the copy/paste malware that infected computers a couple of years ago in order to alter Bitcoin addresses, this scam is just quicker version. There will be others and the misreporting that it is ‘furthering negative public perception around bitcoin and cryptocurrency’ is pure FUD. The internet itself is awash with scams yet look how adoption of that has gone.

BitStarz Player Lands $2,459,124 Record Win! Could you be next big winner?
Get 110 USDT Futures Bonus for FREE!

The bottom line is common sense here, Google search results cannot be trusted, and neither can anything posted on Facebook. Both US tech giants have been the largest disseminators of scams and fake sites, most of which have given the crypto industry its bad name.

Of course there are bad actors out there, but we don’t need huge web monopolies broadcasting them while profiting off our personal data and searching habits. Stay safe out there.

Image from Shutterstock
Tags: bitcoinFUDgoogleQR Codescamsearch pages
Tweet123Share225ShareSend
Win up to $1,000,000 in One Spin at CryptoSlots
Martin Young

Martin Young

Martin is a Southeast Asia based info-tech, cyber security, and cryptocurrency analyst with 20 years working in web technology and media.

Related Posts

The Nightly Mint: Daily NFT Recap

The Nightly Mint: Daily NFT Recap

14 hours ago
Bitcoin on-chain metrics

Bitcoin On-Chain Activity Throttled After LUNA Collapse

17 hours ago
Bitcoin Consolidation Uninspiring, But Run To Near $33k On The Cards

Bitcoin Consolidation Uninspiring, But Run To Near $33k On The Cards

17 hours ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Trading Volume Plummets Down From Recent Top

21 hours ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Sets Record Streak For Bloodliest Weekly Trend yet

22 hours ago
JPMorgan: Bitcoin Is Undervalued; Says Fair Price Is 28% Higher

JPMorgan: Bitcoin Is Undervalued; Says Fair Price Is 28% Higher

22 hours ago

Premium Partners

Top Brokers

PrimeXBT

PrimeXBT

Review · Visit

Top Casinos

BitStarz

BitStarz

Review · Visit
7BitCasino

7BitCasino

Review · Visit
Punt Casino

Punt Casino

Review · Visit
Wildcoins Casino

Wildcoins Casino

Review · Visit
CryptoSlots

CryptoSlots

Review · Visit
mBit

mBit

Review · Visit
CryptoGames

CryptoGames

Review · Visit
Bspin

Bspin

Review · Visit

Sportsbooks

1xBit

1xBit

Review · Visit

Oriental Culture Announces Strategic Partnership with Hangzhou Metaverse Internet Technology Co., Ltd.

May 26, 2022

Price Prediction: How Profitable Will These Coins Be? — Dogecoin (DOGE), Parody Coin (PARO), and Ripple (XRP)

May 26, 2022

In Defence of Cryptocurrency – Christine Lagarde, Are You Serious?

May 26, 2022

Gaming Projects You Should Know in 2022: Decentraland (MANA), Enjin (ENJ), and Pac-Man Frog (PAC)

May 26, 2022

These Undervalued Coins Could Be Your Ticket to Being a Millionaire: Polkadot (DOT) and Quitriam Finance (QTM)

May 26, 2022

ABOUT US

NewsBTC is a cryptocurrency news service that covers bitcoin news today, technical analysis & forecasts for bitcoin price and other altcoins. Here at NewsBTC, we are dedicated to enlightening everyone about bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

We cover BTC news related to bitcoin exchanges, bitcoin mining and price forecasts for various cryptocurrencies.

COMPANY

  • Advertising
  • Comments Policy
  • Privacy Center
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Contact

Technical Analysis

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Ripple (XRP)
  • Chainlink (LINK)
  • Cardano (ADA)
  • Tezos (XTZ)

LINKS

Crypto Prices from Nomics

Cryptocurrency news

  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Chainlink
  • Cardano
  • EOS
  • Tezos

© 2021 NewsBTC. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • News
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum
    • Cardano
    • Dogecoin
    • Ripple
    • DeFi
    • NFT
    • Sponsored
    • Press Releases
  • Analysis
    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Cardano (ADA)
    • Chainlink (LINK)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Tezos (XTZ)
    • Zcash (ZEC)
    • EOS
    • YearnFinance (YFI)
  • Trading Course
  • Directory
    • Crypto Businesses
    • Bitcoin Brokers
    • Casinos
    • Sportsbooks
  • Play Games
  • Bet & Win
  • Spin & Win

© 2021 NewsBTC. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.