Tech-savvy sellers utilizing ‘get your supply’ QR codes to hawk hashish
Brazen drug sellers are utilizing QR codes caught on lampposts to promote hashish close to colleges, universities and even police stations.
The black and gold stickers promoting ‘Get your supply’ have been noticed round Worcester. Each sticker contains a QR code and an image of a hashish leaf, however the police have warned individuals to not scan them or click on on any hyperlinks.
Identical stickers have been present in London, however now sellers additional afield are adopting the identical approach. The digital codes, often utilized by retailers to direct clients to on-line shops, are being exploited by savvy drug sellers to draw new clients. They’re inserting these stickers on lampposts, bins, telephone bins and different road furnishings.
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(Image: SWNS)
Labour councillor Robyn Norfolk, who represents St John’s within the metropolis, expressed her shock: “It is shocking for them to go up near schools.” She added: “I have heard of QR codes being used to link to scams, but not drugs. “
Worcester mum-of-two Faye Roberts, 37, commented on the audacity of the scenario: “The audacity of it is frightening really.
“I am unable to imagine how overtly they’re promoting it, identical to it is any common product and much more regarding is them cropping up close to colleges and parks. They are concentrating on our youngsters and that should not be allowed. They want to come back down as quickly as attainable.
“Police need to do something. Surely they can be traced via these websites or they were caught on CCTV putting them up.”
(Image: SWNS)
The QR codes in London reportedly take individuals to a shiny web site that includes hashish merchandise with false claims of its merchandise being authorized. It additionally invitations would-be clients to comply with them on the encrypted chat app Telegram, which standard with criminals.
West Mercia Police stated the pressure advises individuals to not scan the QR code, even when somebody is interested in what the code is. Worcester Safer Neighbourhood Inspector Tanya Beckett stated: “We have been made aware of stickers being placed on street furniture and bins in some parts of Worcester promoting the sale of cannabis.
“West Mercia Police is devoted to tackling drug provide in the neighborhood. I want to reassure the general public that we at the moment are investigating this subject and I counsel that folks do not try to scan the connected QR code. I’d urge anybody who has any details about these stickers to contact us.”
A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: “Members of our road scene staff at the moment are out and about eradicating the stickers.”
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up Daily Star’s editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
