A QR code is a link you cannot read at a glance

Preview an unfamiliar QR code before opening its destination. A sticker, flyer, or image can point anywhere, including a lookalike login page.

1. Decode the code with a scanner that shows its contents without automatically opening the link.
2. Read the full hostname, not just the brand name somewhere in the URL. Beware of shortened links and unexpected redirects.
3. If it asks you to sign in or pay, navigate to the organization's site yourself instead of continuing from the scan.

For a screenshot, Akousa's QR scanner can help reveal the encoded text. A familiar logo beside a code is not evidence that the destination is trustworthy.