Scammers turn woman’s public plea for aid into legal nightmare

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

A woman in Petaling Jaya is facing legal charges after scammers used her publicly shared payment QR code to conduct fraudulent transactions across six states. Authorities warn that QR code scams are rising and stress the importance of verifying transaction recipients and exercising caution when sharing or scanning codes to avoid becoming victims.

A 33-year-old woman identified as Siti in Petaling Jaya is facing legal action in multiple states after scammers hijacked her payment QR code, which she had shared publicly to seek financial help for her child’s basic needs. Siti posted the QR code on social media to raise funds for milk and diapers but was unaware that fraudsters were using it to channel illicit transactions until police notified her of 21 reports filed against her bank account across six states.

Siti said she only learned of the reports when law enforcement officers visited her home. She had deleted the original QR code from her devices and could not recall the suspicious transactions. Several individuals had contacted her claiming to have mistakenly transferred excess funds and requested refunds to third-party accounts. Siti said she complied and returned the excess money as instructed.

As a result, authorities are pursuing court proceedings against her for alleged involvement as a money mule, despite her assertions of innocence. She urged the public to exercise caution in sharing payment QR codes without fully understanding potential risks.

In another case, a 28-year-old technician named Qushairi reported losing RM6,000 after scanning a QR code linked to a supposed sales campaign on an e-commerce platform. He was promised a 10% cashback after his transaction but encountered repeated excuses when seeking to reclaim his funds.

Similarly, a 37-year-old housewife, Hasnah, recounted a suspicious incident after scanning a social media QR code while in need of money for groceries. She became wary when asked to enter her phone number and a verification code, later discovering an attempt to access her social media account from an unfamiliar location. Hasnah said she hesitated upon being prompted to provide a Transaction Authorisation Code (TAC).

Authorities warn that technological proficiency alone does not shield individuals from fraud schemes exploiting QR codes. Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, director of the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department, emphasized that fraud risks stem from failing to verify transaction recipients, misplaced trust in unknown parties, and the hidden nature of destinations behind QR codes.

He advised vigilance and thorough verification before scanning QR codes or entering sensitive information to prevent falling victim to such scams.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.