Government has blocked 23 false CoronaCheck QR codes since October

From mid-October, the Ministry of Health has blocked 23 fraudulent QR codes that are no longer accepted by CoronaCheck scanners. Blocking foreign codes in particular proves difficult.

The 23 QR codes have been blocked because they were widely exchanged by users. The Ministry of Health reports this to the NOS. It concerns thirteen domestic and ten foreign fraudulent QR codes. The ministry says it runs into legal problems when blocking foreign false codes.

Blocking is only possible if it is very clear that a QR code has been created with a fake name. The NOS mentions as examples codes that were linked to names such as ‘Adolf Hitler’ and ‘Emmanuel Macron’. The ministry is working on amended rules to also be able to block codes of authentic names of foreign EU citizens. Scanners often show a notification with foreign QR codes, to remind users that they have to ask for identification. Domestic QR codes should also check CoronaCheck scanners on the basis of identification.

Once a code is on the block list, the scanners for the CoronaCheck app will no longer accept it. According to the NOS, fake codes are still frequently shared via chat groups, apps and websites. The site describes the presence of 65 fraudulent codes in an Android app, most of which were accepted by scanners.