Don't Fall For New Scam Draining Bank Accounts In Minnesota

This scam is clever enough that I could see myself falling for it. A Minnesota police department shared a warning on social media about a new type of scam that is showing up across the country and in Minnesota. It's called "Brushing"

How The Scam Works

You receive an unexpected gift or box from a company like Amazon. Common gifts include Bluetooth speakers, jewelry, or other small things. It will have your address on it, but no sender information. Instead, you'll find a slip of paper in the box saying scan this QR code to see who sent you the gift.

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Don't Scan The QR Code

When you scan the QR code, your phone is compromised. All the information from your phone will be sent to the scammers and they receive complete access to your phone.

Victims often have their bank accounts drained.

The Saginaw Police Department share the scam on their Facebook page on December 16. They say that the victims often have their bank accounts drained because the scammers were able to access their banking information from their phones.

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Be Careful Of Any QR Codes

Be wary of scanning any QR code that doesn't seem legitimate. There have been reports of QR codes on parking meters that are scams.

Be sure your family and friends know about the scam and educate Grandma & Grandpa. It's too bad we have these Grinches we have to worry about this time of year.

LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born

With the holiday spirit in the air, it’s the perfect time to dive into the history of iconic holiday gifts. Using national toy archives and data curated by The Strong from 1920 to today, Stacker searched for products that caught hold of the public zeitgeist through novelty, innovation, kitsch, quirk, or simply great timing, and then rocketed to success.

Gallery Credit: Jacob Osborn & Peter Richman