Why is a "Standardized Verification Process" Required?

Without a standardized verification process for websites, as more scams and fraudulent activities occur, trust and confidence in QR codes will decrease. Trust and confidence are needed for QR code technology to survive and strive in a digital economy. 

The NFOSAFE Verification Solution provides the standardized verification process along with the NFO IQ scanner to make QR codes safer.

The Common Misconception 

The common misconception is “Our businesses are already verified".  

• Any for-profit or non-profit entity can claim to be verified.      
• Different methods of self-verification create inconsistent trust levels.
• Scammers can also claim to be verified when there is not a standardized process.
• Even if an entity is well established, the scoring and verification must be performed by a standardized process and limited only to the authorized entity or entities preforming the scoring and verifications to foster trust and confidence in the verification process. 

The Problem with Fragmented Verification

• Each business verifies itself differently.
• No centralized database or ongoing monitoring.
• Customers cannot easily determine the trustworthiness of a website.

The Need for a Standardized Approach

Why a centralized verification process is essential?

• Ensure consistency across all for-profit and non-profit entities.
• Creates a universally recognized trusted source.
• Provides continuous monitoring and updates.

Case Study: QR Code Fraud & Business Liability

How Businesses Face Risk Without Standardized Verification

• Scenario: A restaurant prints QR codes for digital menus, but an attacker swaps them with malicious ones, redirecting customers to a phishing site.
• Outcome: Customers unknowingly enter payment details, leading to financial loss and fraud complaints.
• Impact: The restaurant faces reputational damage, customer distrust, and potential legal liability for failing to secure QR code transactions.
• Lesson: The fraud could have been avoided had the NFOSAFE standardized verification process had been in place. Given that the URL would have been scored with a green shield signifying the lowest risk, and the URL data would have been entered into the NFO IQ database with the lowest risk score; the customer would have expected a green shield to display when the users scanned the restaurant's QR code. Therefore, had the customers scanned the altered QR code using NFO IQ scanner, a red shield would have displayed to alert the customers of the potential scam; thereby, the customers could have avoided the fraud.

NFOSAFE Verification Solution

How do we solve this challenge?

• Standardized scoring and verification process.
• Centralized database for verified for-profit and non-profit entities.
• Proprietary risk-scoring system based on real-time data.
• Third-party data integration to enhance verification accuracy.
• NFO IQ scanning capabilities to alert customers, donors, members in real time of high-risk websites based on NFOSAFE verification.

Below are sources referred in case study mentioned above. 

These sources provide real-world examples of how unverified QR codes can pose significant risks to both consumers and businesses, underscoring the importance of standardized verification processes.

1. https://www.sharp.co.uk/news-and-events/blog/bogus-qr-codes-in-restaurants

2. https://www.acfe.com/fraud-resources/fraud-examiner-archives/fraud-examiner-article?s=March-2022-TFE-QR-Fraud&utm

3. https://stateline.org/2022/02/16/think-twice-before-scanning-that-qr-code/?utm_

Supporting Compliance with Cybersecurity Regulations

How Standardized Verification Can Help Businesses Stay Compliant

• Reduces Regulatory Risk – Businesses can demonstrate due diligence by verifying website authenticity and preventing unauthorized redirections.
• Identifies High-Risk Websites – Scans and flags websites linked to known phishing, malware, or fraudulent activities.
• Enhances Payment Security – Verifying whether QR codes are linked to payment pages with SSL encryption to comply with PCI DSS.
• Monitors URL Reputation – Continuously assesses domain age, ownership validation, and historical security breaches.
• Strengthens Audit Readiness – Provides a traceable verification log, allowing businesses to document their security efforts for compliance purposes.

Why Standardization Matters for Everyone

• Inconsistent verification of websites creates risk and confusion.
• A standardized approach ensures uniform, ongoing security.
• Standardization provides a scalable, trusted verification solution.
• Users' trust and confidence are needed for a digital economy to strive. 

Partner with us to help:

• Make QR codes safer for your customers, donors and members.
• Establish industry-wide QR code safety standards.
• Shape the future of secure QR code engagement.
• Engage for-profit, non-profit and governmental entities in the effort to make QR code safer.
• Secure the future of QR code technology via a standardized verification process.
• Generate new revenues, cost savings, and strategic advantages for our partners.

Contact us and explore our partnership opportunity at:  support@nfosafe.com