QR Safe

TY B.Sc. IT | Sem 5 | CEP (2026–2027)

Community Engagement Project (2026–2027)

Scan Smart. Pay Safe.

Learn how to identify suspicious QR codes, avoid QR scams and make safer digital payments.

STOP → CHECK → VERIFY → THEN SCAN / PAY

Check source
Inspect stickers
Verify amount

Quick Navigation

Explore awareness modules & project details

About This Project

TY B.Sc. Information Technology Community Engagement Project

Overview & Purpose

Quick Response (QR) codes have become an essential part of daily life, offering fast access to web links, menus, tickets, and financial transactions. However, their widespread use has also introduced serious security risks.

This Community Engagement Project (CEP), titled “QR Code Awareness and Safe QR Usage”, is designed to educate college students, local residents, senior citizens, and general smartphone users about secure QR practices, preventing quishing (QR phishing), and avoiding digital payment frauds.

Why QR Safety Matters

A QR code is simply a visual container for data (typically a URL). Because users cannot read the destination link before scanning, attackers exploit this blind trust to redirect victims to malicious phishing pages or fraudulent payment workflows. This website serves as an accessible digital guide to bridge that security gap.

Project Objectives

Core goals of the CEP initiative

  • Create fundamental awareness about QR code technology and usage.
  • Explain common QR-related cyber scams and attack vectors.
  • Educate users on identifying fake payment QR codes and tampered stickers.
  • Explain QR phishing and "quishing" mechanisms.
  • Teach practical destination URL verification techniques.
  • Promote safe, vigilant digital payment habits.
  • Reiterate the absolute rule: Never share OTP or UPI PIN.
  • Teach users to recognize warning signs and red flags.
  • Foster responsible digital behavior across community groups.
  • Conduct structured community awareness drives and sessions.
  • Collect community feedback through awareness surveys.
  • Analyze awareness improvement using empirical survey data.

Target Community

Audience groups addressed in this project

Key Demographics & Usefulness

  • College Students: Heavy digital app users who are vulnerable to online reward and cashback scams.
  • Parents & Working Professionals: Frequent users of online banking, bills, and utility QR payments.
  • Senior Citizens: Highly vulnerable to financial fraud due to limited digital literacy.
  • Small Shop Owners: Dependent on merchant QR codes; vulnerable to physical tampering/sticker replacement.
  • General Smartphone Users: Broad community members interacting daily with restaurant menus, transport passes, and event registrations.

Project Methodology

Step-by-step execution framework

1

Topic Selection

Choosing QR code security as a critical community safety challenge.

2

Research & Risk Analysis

Studying quishing vectors, fake merchant stickers, and payment fraud trends.

3

Content Preparation

Drafting simple, non-technical educational modules and safety guidelines.

4

Website Development

Building a lightweight, mobile-first Android app style web platform using HTML5, CSS3, and Vanilla JS.

5

Awareness Material

Designing digital posters, checklists, and quiz frameworks.

6

Community Activity

Conducting interactive awareness sessions and demonstrations.

7

Survey & Feedback

Gathering before and after awareness responses from participants.

8

Data Analysis & Documentation

Compiling metrics and finalizing the project report (Black Book).

What is a QR Code?

Understanding Quick Response codes from scratch

Definition & Function

A QR code (Quick Response code) is a type of two-dimensional matrix barcode that can be read easily by digital devices like smartphones. It stores information as a series of pixels in a square grid.

Where Are They Used?

  • Digital Payments: UPI, wallet transfers at retail shops.
  • Websites: Directing users to web links without typing URLs.
  • Restaurant Menus: Digital menu viewing.
  • Tickets & Passes: Boarding passes, event access.
  • Product Info: Tracking ingredients, manuals, and authenticity.

Why QR Safety Matters

Never trust a QR code blindly

The Hidden Risk

A QR code itself is just an image containing data (usually a link). Your phone cannot tell if that link leads to a safe website or a malicious scam page before opening it. Attackers exploit this blind trust.

Where Can a Malicious QR Take You?

Phishing Web Pages Fake Payment Portals Malware Downloads Fraudulent UPI Flows

Common QR Scams

Recognize fraudulent tactics used by cyber criminals

A Fake QR Codes & Tampering

What it is: Attackers paste malicious QR stickers over genuine merchant payment codes at stores.

How it works: You scan to pay the shopkeeper, but the money goes directly to the scammer's account.

Action: Always confirm the store owner's name on your payment app before entering the UPI PIN.

B QR Phishing (Quishing)

What it is: Phishing emails or messages containing QR codes instead of regular web links to bypass email security filters.

How it works: Scammers claim your bank account or utility service is blocked and ask you to scan the QR to verify details.

Action: Never scan QR codes sent via unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages.

C Fake Payment & Reward QRs

What it is: Scammers send messages saying "You have won cashback/reward! Scan here to receive money."

How it works: When you scan and enter your UPI PIN under the pretense of "receiving" money, funds are debited from your account.

Action: Remember: You never need to enter a UPI PIN to RECEIVE money.

D Fake Donation & Event QRs

What it is: Fraudulent disaster relief, charity, or event registration drives using counterfeit QR codes.

How it works: Exploiting emotions or urgency to collect unauthorized funds.

Action: Verify official charity channels and domain names before donating.

Safe QR Payments

Best practices for UPI and digital wallets

Golden Rule of UPI

A UPI PIN is ONLY used to send money. You never need a PIN, password, or OTP to receive money from anyone.

Payment Verification Checklist

  • Verify the recipient name matches the merchant or person.
  • Check that the payment amount is correct.
  • Use only authorized, trusted banking and payment applications.
  • Review transaction summary screens before clicking confirmation.

Verify Before You Trust

Step-by-step verification guide

1

Check the Source

Where did this QR code come from? Is it from a trusted entity?

2

Inspect Physical Codes

Look for pasted stickers or physical tampering on merchant stands.

3

Preview the URL

Use QR scanners that display destination URLs before automatically opening them.

4

Verify Recipient & Amount

Double-check payment screens before entering any confidential PIN.

Warning Signs

Red flags to watch out for

Urgent payment requests with threats
"You won a cash prize / lottery" claims
Misspelled website domains in URL preview
QR stickers placed on top of original shop stands
Requests for OTP, UPI PIN, or bank passwords
Prompting to install unknown remote-access apps

Do's & Don'ts

Quick habits for secure digital engagement

DO's

  • Verify QR code source
  • Check recipient name & amount
  • Inspect physical QR stickers
  • Use trusted payment apps
  • Keep your OS and apps updated

DON'Ts

  • Scan unknown QR codes blindly
  • Share OTP, UPI PIN, or passwords
  • Trust unexpected prize/cashback QR offers
  • Install apps from unverified links
  • Ignore suspicious URL redirects

Real-Life Scenarios

Common situations and correct responses

Scenario 1: The Tampered Shop QR

Situation: You visit a local tea stall and scan the payment QR sticker pasted on the counter.

Risk: Money goes to a fraudster's account instead of the vendor.

Warning Sign: The sticker feels like paper pasted over a plastic stand, or the name on the payment app doesn't match the shop owner.

Correct Action: Ask the vendor to confirm their name or use their verified phone number.

Scenario 2: The Courier Scam Message

Situation: You receive an SMS: "Your parcel couldn't be delivered. Scan QR to pay ₹10 re-delivery fee."

Risk: Phishing site theft of banking details.

Warning Sign: Unsolicited message from an unknown number with a short-link QR.

Correct Action: Delete the message immediately and check tracking directly on the official courier app.

Interactive Safety Quiz

Test your knowledge on QR security

Test how well you can spot QR scams and stay safe online! Contains 8 practical questions.

Community Engagement Project

TY B.Sc. Information Technology | Semester 5 (2026–2027)

Project Overview

Project Title: QR Code Awareness and Safe QR Usage

Course: TY B.Sc. Information Technology

Semester: 5th Semester

Project Type: Community Engagement Project (CEP)

Academic Year: 2026–2027

Core Objective: To create awareness among students and community members regarding secure QR-code usage, payment safety, and digital fraud prevention.

Privacy Notice: In compliance with data privacy standards, student personal details, roll numbers, college names, and faculty guide names are omitted from public display and reserved strictly for official Black Book documentation and college submissions.

Community Awareness Activity Log

Details of field awareness drives and interactive community sessions.

Activity Date: [ Enter Date Here ]

Location: [ Enter Location Here ]

Target Audience: [ e.g., Students / Senior Citizens / Shop Owners ]

Participants Count: [ Enter Number ]

Activity Conducted: [ e.g., Poster Presentation & Safe QR Demonstration ]

Topics Covered: [ e.g., UPI safety, Quishing, Scam identification ]

Observations: [ Enter field observations ]

Activity photographs placeholder (Insert actual photos from community drive here)

Community Awareness Survey

Measuring community awareness before and after educational awareness drives across key focus areas:

  • QR Usage Awareness: Comfort and knowledge in handling digital QRs.
  • QR Scam Awareness: Recognition of fake stickers and fraudulent codes.
  • Payment Safety: Verification of recipient names and transaction amounts.
  • OTP / UPI PIN Awareness: Understanding that PINs are never needed to receive money.
  • URL Verification: Inspecting destination links before proceeding.

📊 Survey Results Notice: Survey results will be updated after actual community data collection.

Data Analysis & Metrics

Comparative analysis framework mapping "Before Awareness" vs "After Awareness" responses.

[ Professional survey tables, percentage comparisons, and comparative awareness charts will be populated here based on actual collected survey metrics ]

Project Impact Analysis

Expected Impact:

Enhanced digital vigilance, reduced susceptibility to QR scams, improved payment verification habits, and promotion of responsible digital behavior among community members.

Actual Observed Impact:

[ Edit or update with actual feedback and metrics observed post community activity ]

Student Learning Outcomes (TY B.Sc. IT)

Skills and competencies gained through this Community Engagement Project:

Web Development HTML5 CSS3 JavaScript UI/UX Design Cybersecurity Awareness QR Technology Digital Payment Safety Survey Design Data Analysis Communication Documentation Presentation Problem Solving

Resources & References

Official cyber safety references

  • National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (India): cybercrime.gov.in
  • National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) - "Be Aware" Digital Fraud Awareness campaigns.

Emergency Guidance

What to do if you encounter a fraudulent QR scam

Immediate Steps if Scammed

  1. Stop Interaction: Close any malicious browser tabs or payment apps immediately.
  2. Contact Bank / Wallet: Call your bank's official helpline to block UPI IDs, cards, or accounts immediately.
  3. Report Cybercrime: File a formal complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
  4. Preserve Evidence: Take screenshots of transaction IDs, messages, and QR codes encountered.