Author: John Montgallo

Consumers should beware of utility scam QR codes, says Nevada AG

John Montgallo
Scam QR codes - QR code on phone

State Attorney General Aaron Ford has warned that this type of fraud is more of a threat. Nevada’s Attorney General has issued a warning to the state’s residents to be wary of scam QR codes that appear to be from utility providers launching new types of technology. These barcodes have become commonplace amid the pandemic, and fraudsters are taking note. AG Aaron Ford’s office released a statement cautioning consumers in the state that scam QR codes have become “increasingly sophisticated”. They are becoming more difficult for the average person to…

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Donation meter QR codes make digital contributions easier in Lynchburg

John Montgallo
Donation meter QR codes - Image of parking meter

The downtown region of the Virginia community is making it simpler for locals to support non-profits. The community of Lynchburg, Virginia, now has a new opportunity to support non-profits in the area through donation meter QR codes. These “caring meters” look like traditional parking meters but serve an entirely different purpose. The donation meter QR codes provide the opportunity to support those non-profits even without loose change. The “Change for Change” initiative was created to give locals the opportunity to use their loose change to make donations to these organizations.…

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Australian state developing own QR code check-in system for venues

John Montgallo
QR code check-in system - person scanning paper

Victoria intends to launch its universal system “soon”, which will link with the state’s contact tracing. The Australian state of Victoria has announced that it is developing its own QR code check-in system for venues. This will link with the state’s COVID-19 contact tracing system and will be launched “soon”. The state government is building a specific tool for the hospitality industry as well as retail stores. This universal QR code check-in system will be available to hospitality and retail stores. Those venues will be asked to use the quick…

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Paid influencers to find it harder to post hidden advertising on Instagram

John Montgallo
Paid influencers - Instagram

The Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority watchdog announced the platform’s agreement. Facebook-owned Instagram has agreed to take action to crack down on paid influencers posting hidden advertising on the platform, confirmed Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Accounts that have at least one thousand followers on Instagram earn substantial sums from promotions. Paid influencers who boast a minimum of one thousand followers have the capacity to earn considerable fees from companies seeking to promote their products on Instagram. This has become quite an industry for popular accounts on the platform…

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Governor Cuomo announces new Covid Alert NY app for contact tracing

John Montgallo
Covid Alert NY - mobile phone - image of New York

New Yorkers using it will be alerted if they’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced the launch of the Covid Alert NY smartphone app. It was developed to alert state residents if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive to the virus. The free application notifies users if they have been within six feet of an infected person for over 10 minutes. Cuomo described the Covid Alert NY app by saying that “It’s using technology on a level it’s…

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