Your WeChat Account May be Blocked If You Scan Those QR Codes

‘Follow our subscription account to support our startup!’

'Follow our subscription account and get an ice cream for free!’

The list goes on…

......

Anyone using WeChat is quite familiar with those types of messages; we come across them almost every day, always asking us to scan a QR code that is advertised as being mutually beneficial.

Those who regularly commute on the subway in China have probably noticed the presence of ‘QR code beggars’, people who walk along subway cars and bend over with their phones to ask commuters to scan the QR code they display in front of them. In an attempt to shed more light on these rather unusual ‘favors’, we decided to investigate further into it and have gathered some valuable insights.

But don’t be fooled by these scammers. Many netizens took it to social media to report their encounters whenever they were asked to scan a QR code while on the subway or some place else.

There are also a large amount of similar news reports on the internet.

While some people merely believe that these QR codes are for promotional purposes only and decide to walk away from them, others fall into their trap by thinking that all they need to do is scan it and follow their account without any real effort. The problem is, scanning those QR codes doesn’t actually prompt you to follow any WeChat account. Instead, it requires a “safety verification code” to help unban their account.

What does “unbanning an account” mean?

According to WeChat: WeChat accounts can be blocked due to various violations which can be un-banned by a well-recorded WeChat account. But a frozen vicious account can't be un-banned using this method.

Only by scanning their QR code can their account be unfrozen. No confirmation button.

On August 26, a reporter went “undercover” and agreed to scan those QR codes after about 5-6 people approached him in several crowded areas of the city to ask him to “support their business”.

The reporter scanned the QR code provided by one of the strangers and received the following confirmation message: 'You have completed the verification'.

To his surprise, the process was fairly easy - too easy. There was no further action required on his part after scanning the QR code.

Forming an underground industry chain with RMB 60 made per QR code scan.

The reporter dug deeper into this and quickly found that loads of “unbanned WeChat groups” exist online. People accept the order and earn money.

Loads of “unbanned WeChat groups” exist online.

One of the group admins told the reporter that there are two types of WeChat auxiliary businesses - 'WeChat account registration assist' and 'WeChat unblocked assistance'. Registration makes RMB25 per scan, while unblock assistance makes RMB 60 per scan.

Through intra-group communication, the reporter found that the WeChat auxiliary registration process has formed a complete closed loop. Anyone who requires someone to unblock his/her WeChat account provides accounts in the group chat, which are then distributed by the group administrator and the received orders by the group members. The reporter noted that most of the members can complete more than 10 orders per day.

What's more, there is also a multi-layer agency for WeChat registration assist ordering platform within this network. Once the subordinate completes the task, his or her superior will also receive a reward.

1. Task procedure adjustment, OR code scanning task order distribution based on province.

2. Subordinate assist code's registration location should be the same as the superior’s.

3. Same registration location, no need to fill out 'bank card details'.

4. To prevent vicious orders, everyone should pay RMB 0.1 to receive the order (which can be refunded within one second.

According to the above situation, Tencent antifraud officers told the reporter:

“Such scams often occur in crowded places. Please be vigilant and do not to scan those QR codes. Only acquaintances who have verified their identities can use WeChat assisted operations.

At the same time, if you have already been deceived, you should promptly reach out to Tencent’s customer service team online to report your situation.

If the unblocked account is blocked again, accounts that have been unblocked will also be blocked.

According to Tencent's regulations:

The same account can only be used to assist twice a month, which also have to fulfill the following requirements: with an attaching bank card or phone number, registration period no longer than 6 months, as well as not overpass the assist times (once per month, twice per 6 months, 3 times per year).

What happens when passerby’s come across those scammers and scan their QR codes?

WeChat says:

If the unblocked account is banned again due to violations, the assisting account may also be banned.

Relevant persons engaged in network security told reporters:

The general public should take this QR code scam trend seriously. In addition to the risk of their WeChat account being blocked, the credit evaluation may be lowered in the future, which will adversely affect their personal wealth management and loans on the platform.

Source: 人民日报

Supervisor: Crystal Huang

Editor: SC

Co-editor: Ed Bellin

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