Are scammers turning off water supply and using a red Air Selangor tag with a QR code to cheat their victims?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : QR Code On Air Selangor Red Tag Is A Phishing Scam!
People are sharing a photo of a red tag from Air Selangor, claiming or suggesting that scammers are turning off water supply and using the QR code to cheat their victims!
On WhatsApp : A tenant had his water supply suddenly stop so he went out to check and saw this red tag.
This QR leads to a website which at first glance looks like legitimate AS website but it’s not. It’s a scam, like many other imitation website.
Turns out the tap was turned off manually. Air selangor doesn’t operate this way.
Please be alert 🙏🏻
Received from a friend, this could be a similar case of the free water bottle with a QR code scam
Stay alert
Stay Safe
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Truth : QR Code On Air Selangor Red Tag Is Not A Scam!
This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Air Selangor QR Code Is Legitimate
Let me start by pointing out that the QR code on the Air Selangor red tag that people are sharing on WhatsApp appears to be legitimate.
If you scan the QR code, it will take you to a QR code generator and redirect website called ME-QR, with the link https://qr.me-qr.com/3430619.
Once you click on the Skip advertisement link, it will take you directly to the payment page on the official payment website for Air Selangor – https://crisportal.airselangor.com/pay/
While it is admittedly odd for Air Selangor to use a QR code redirect website (instead of linking the QR code directly to their official website), the redirect eventually leads to their official website, which is not a scam or phishing website.
To avoid confusing people, it would be better for companies like Air Selangor to use QR codes that lead directly to their official websites. There is no reason for companies to use QR code redirect services.
Ultimately, this viral message appears to be a misguided attempt by a wannabe Internet security “expert” to warn people about a QR code scam that does not exist.
Fact #2 : Air Selangor Red Tag Is Legitimate
I should also point out that the Air Selangor red tag is legitimate. Air Selangor confirmed on Friday, 12 July 2024, that it leaves a red tag after shutting off water supply to residences or businesses with unpaid bills.
For example, Malaysian actress Zarina Zainuddin posted a photo (archive) of such a red tag on 24 February 2021, when Air Selangor cut off water supply to her house for outstanding bills.
It appears that these red tags from Air Selangor do not have a QR code in the past, but newer red tags have a QR code to encourage debtors to pay their outstanding bills.
Recommended : Will QR code on free water bottle empty your bank account?!
Fact #3 : QR Code On Water Bottle Was Not A Scam
The viral message appears to refer to a recent viral claim that scammers are giving out free water bottles with a QR code that will empty your bank account.
I investigated that claim in April, and found it to be false as well. That QR code only led to Go Shopping – a mobile shopping app on the Google Play Store, and Apple App Store. Incidentally, those free water bottles have a Go Shopping logo on them…
Fact #4 : QR Code Is Not Malicious In Nature
QR code (which is short for Quick Response code) is not nefarious or malicious in nature.
The QR code is merely a type of two dimensional barcode that was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company, Denso Wave, to track automotive parts. It has since been adopted for other purposes because it is more efficient and can support more than just numbers. For example, Version 40 QR code can contain up to 7,089 numbers or 4,296 characters.
Ultimately, a QR code is nothing more than a series of numbers or characters – data which can be used for a variety of purposes, including providing a link to an online restaurant menu.
While QR codes are not malicious by nature, scammers can and do create fake QR codes to trick people. In Texas, for example, fake QR codes were placed on parking meters to trick drivers into keying their credit card or bank login information in fake (phishing) websites that look like a genuine payment website.
So, the safest way is to manually open the official website for the bank or payment portal you need, instead of using a QR code.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
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![Klang Valley residents should start getting ready today for at least two days of water cut, from 10-12 October 2023! Major Water Cut In Klang Valley From 10-12 October 2023! Please note that this is genuine news, and should not be confused with the fake news that was circulating earlier about a 4-day water cut in the Klang Valley. At 26 September 2023, Air Selangor announced that it will shut down the Sungai Langat Water Treatment Plant (WTP) for asset upgrading, and maintenance works. The upgrading works at the Sungai Langat WTP will take place from 9 AM to 7 PM on Tuesday, 10 October 2023. After that, Air Selangor expects water supply to be fully restored to all affected areas by 12 PM noon on Thursday, 12 October 2023. [su_note note_color="#fef6da"] Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) would like to inform about the implementation of asset improvement and maintenance works at the Sungai Langat Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The implementation of these works will cause a scheduled water supply disruption in the Petaling, Kuala Lumpur and Hulu Langat regions starting at 9:00 am, 10 October 2023 (Tuesday). The works are expected to be completed by 7:00 pm, 10 October 2023 (Tuesday). Water supply is expected to start being distributed to users in stages after the improvement and maintenance works are completed, and then when the main water supply distribution system has been stabilized. Water supply is expected to be fully restored at 12:00 noon, 12 October 2023 (Thursday). The duration of interruption and restoration of water supply in the affected areas is different depending on the distance of the location of the user's premises and the pressure on the water supply distribution system. Air Selangor will move water tankers to the affected areas by giving priority to critical premises such as hospitals, clinics, dialysis centers and funerals. Therefore, Air Selangor would like to advise the affected customers to store sufficient water supply and use water prudently throughout the period of this scheduled water supply interruption. For commercial customers, treated water supplies can be purchased at any Air Selangor customer service counter in the affected region. For this purpose, commercial customers can use their respective water tankers at the two water filling stations that will be opened at Sunway Batu Caves and Selayang Mutiara. [/su_note] Recommended : 4-Day Water Cut For 2023 Klang Valley Pipe Upgrade?! List Of Klang Valley Areas Affected By October 2023 Water Cut! Here is the official list of areas affected by the October 2023 water cut in the Klang Valley! Kuala Lumpur Petaling District Hulu Langat District [su_note] Please Support My Work! Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card! Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL) Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school. He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world. [/su_note] Recommended Reading Do Shellfish From East Coast Malaysia Have Saxitoxin?! Are Street Children Being Used To Lure Victims?! Was Jasmine Caught Repackaging Local Rice As Imported Rice?! MPH Free Books : Don’t Fall For This Scam! Switching From Maxis To Digi Saves Me RM1.9K / Year! Go Back To > Business | Home | Tech ARP Support Tech ARP! Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!](https://i0.wp.com/www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Air-Selangor-emergency-water-cut-pollution-October-2023.jpg?fit=624%2C351&ssl=1)
