What is happening here
A fake ATM overlay involves a QR code placed on or near a cash machine that pretends to help you: verify your card, unlock the machine, or report a problem. The code leads to a page that harvests card or account details.
Overlays and fake instructions appear on machine surrounds, on nearby signs, and on slips left on the machine. Real ATMs do not ask you to scan a QR code to use them.
Red flags to check before you scan
- A QR code is stuck to the machine, its surround, or a nearby sign.
- The sign claims the machine needs a QR scan to work, or asks you to verify your card first.
- The instructions look added later, with mismatched print or a sticker edge.
- The page asks for card numbers, PINs, or one-time codes.
- The machine itself behaves oddly, such as a loose card slot or an unusual attachment.
Verify before you trust it
1. Do not scan any QR code on or near a cash machine.
2. Use a different machine if anything on the one in front of you looks tampered with.
3. Report the machine to the bank that operates it before you use it.
4. Never enter a PIN on a page reached from a QR code.
Putting this into practice
Build a habit you can use in seconds. Pause before every unexpected scan, read the destination preview, and check the domain against what you already know. If the code is printed in public, look for sticker edges and compare it with nearby signs. If the code arrived in a message, verify it through a separate channel you trust. The pause costs almost nothing, and it is the step that catches most of these scams.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake is scanning to find out whether a code is safe. A scan that opens a page can already expose you to a fake login or a payment trap. Another mistake is trusting a familiar logo, since logos are easy to copy. A third is acting under urgency, which is exactly what the message is designed to create. Slow down, verify through a channel you control, and treat any request for credentials or payment as a reason to stop.
Quick checklist
- Pause before you scan any unexpected code.
- Read the full destination preview, not just the first hop.
- Compare the domain with the official one you already know.
- Check printed codes for sticker edges and mismatched print.
- Never enter passwords, codes, or card details from a surprise scan.
- Verify through a separate, trusted channel before you act.
Related tools and guides
- Run the destination through the [QR tamper evidence planner](/qr-tamper-evidence-planner) before you trust a code you did not expect.
- Inspect the code with the [QR consent note builder](/qr-consent-note-builder) before you trust a code you did not expect.
- Check the address with the [QR phishing pattern trainer](/qr-phishing-pattern-trainer) before you trust a code you did not expect.
- Practise spotting patterns with the [QR placement guide](/qr-placement-guide) before you trust a code you did not expect.
- Review the chain with the [QR safety checker](/qr-safety-checker) before you trust a code you did not expect.
- Keep a record with the [QR size calculator](/qr-size-calculator) before you trust a code you did not expect.
- Plan protection with the [bulk generator](/bulk-generator) before you trust a code you did not expect.
