{"id":225751,"date":"2026-01-27T05:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T13:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=225751"},"modified":"2026-02-05T08:53:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T16:53:54","slug":"how-scam-detector-stops-qr-code-scams-quishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/mcafee-news\/how-scam-detector-stops-qr-code-scams-quishing\/","title":{"rendered":"How McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector Checks QR Codes and Social Messages"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scams\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0always arrive with obvious warning signs.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They show up as QR codes on parking meters. As casual DMs that start with \u201cHey.\u201d As social messages that feel routine enough to respond to without thinking twice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That shift has created a new burden for consumers. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Scamiverse.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to McAfee\u2019s 2026 State of the\u00a0Scamiverse\u00a0report<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Americans now spend 114 hours a year trying to figure out\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0real and\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0fake online<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. That is\u00a0nearly\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">three\u00a0full workweeks<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0lost to second-guessing messages, alerts, links, and notifications.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">McAfee\u2019s upgraded Scam Detector is designed to meet people in those exact moments, with enhancements rolling out across core McAfee plans beginning in February.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The latest improvements add instant QR code\u00a0scam\u00a0checks and smarter social messaging protection, making it easier to spot\u00a0scams\u00a0before they escalate.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-226066\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TExt-Scam-Example-1024x693.png\" alt=\"Figure 1:\u00a0An example of a suspicious text being flagged by McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector\u00a0\" width=\"1024\" height=\"693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TExt-Scam-Example-1024x693.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TExt-Scam-Example-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TExt-Scam-Example-768x520.png 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TExt-Scam-Example-190x129.png 190w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TExt-Scam-Example.png 1456w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Figure 1:\u00a0An example of a suspicious text being flagged by McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">What\u2019s\u00a0new in McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scams\u00a0now move quickly across platforms and formats, often escalating in minutes once someone engages. Among people who were harmed by a\u00a0scam,<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the typical\u00a0scam\u00a0unfolded in about 38 minutes.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That speed leaves little room for hesitation.\u00a0Scam\u00a0protection\u00a0has to\u00a0work in real time, not after the damage is done.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">McAfee\u2019s latest Scam Detector upgrades are designed around that reality, adding:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Instant QR code safety checks<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, so users can assess risk before tapping<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smarter social messaging protection<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, with clearer warnings for suspicious texts, emails, and DMs, even when no link is present<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These Scam Detector upgrades will begin rolling out in February across all core McAfee plans, bringing real-time protection to the moments where\u00a0scams\u00a0escalate fastest.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">QR codes,\u00a0quishing, and why instant scans are needed<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">QR codes were designed for convenience. That is exactly why scammers use them.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cybercriminals increasingly hide malicious links behind QR codes placed on menus, parking meters, packages, posters, and public signage. People scan quickly, often without stopping to evaluate where the code leads.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">McAfee research shows how common this risk has become:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">68% of people scanned a QR code in the past three months<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">18% landed on a suspicious or unsafe page after scanning<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Among those who did, more than half took risky actions such as entering personal information, installing an app, or connecting a digital wallet<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-226036\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example.png\" alt=\"QR Scan Example\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example-205x115.png 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Figure 2. A still from a demo video, showing a risky QR code being blocked by McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Social media scams and the rise of linkless messages<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Phishing is no longer confined to emails with obvious red flags.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scams\u00a0now arrive through WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, and other social platforms, often starting\u00a0as\u00a0vague or friendly messages designed to lower suspicion rather than trigger alarm.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">McAfee\u2019s research highlights a key shift:\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">more than one in four suspicious social messages\u00a0contain\u00a0no link at all<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">44% of Americans say they have replied to a suspicious DM with no link<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These messages rely on familiarity and momentum. A short greeting. A warning about an account issue. A promise of easy money. By the time a request or link appears, the conversation already feels normal.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And the economic impact of these\u00a0scams\u00a0is significant. According to the FTC, social media\u00a0scams\u00a0drove\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$1.9 billion in reported losses in 2024<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, making social platforms one of the top channels for fraud and identity theft.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That\u2019s\u00a0why McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector includes smarter social messaging protection,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0delivering clearer warnings for suspicious texts, emails, and DMs, even those without risky links, across popular platforms. The focus is on\u00a0identifying\u00a0suspicious patterns and behavior, not just URLs.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Users can take a quick screenshot of their social media content on social media, and McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector will analyze the message for suspicious activity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Get protection that works before\u00a0scams\u00a0escalate<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The stakes are high:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One in three Americans<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0has lost money to a\u00a0scam<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Among those who lost money, the average loss was\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$1,160<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">15%<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0of\u00a0scam\u00a0victims fall for another\u00a0scam\u00a0within a year<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scams\u00a0are not just increasing in volume. They are becoming more personal, more believable, and easier to scale using AI.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/scam-detector\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee\u2019s upgraded Scam Detector<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0is\u00a0designed to stay ahead of those shifts, offering real-time guidance when it matters most, whether\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0a suspicious QR code, a vague DM, or a message that feels\u00a0just normal\u00a0enough to trust.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The enhanced Scam Detector, including instant QR code checks and smarter social messaging protection,<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0will begin rolling out in February across all core McAfee plans.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scams\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0always arrive with obvious warning signs.\u00a0 They show up as QR codes on parking meters. As casual DMs that start&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1440,"featured_media":226051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10667,10661,8050],"tags":[],"coauthors":[16632],"class_list":["post-225751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-security-news","category-internet-security","category-mcafee-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector Checks QR Codes and Social Messages | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"QR Code Scams and Suspicious Messages Are Rising. 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