THE growing practice of sharing personal bank QR codes on social media to solicit ‘duit raya’ is drawing scrutiny from both cybersecurity experts and religious authorities, amid concerns over fraud risks and social propriety.
The trend, which has gained traction in the run-up to Hari Raya Aidilfitri, sees users publicly posting QR codes linked to their bank accounts in the hope of receiving festive cash gifts.
While seemingly harmless, the practice is increasingly viewed as opening the door to potential misuse of personal and financial information.
Scam consultant Rahmat Fitri said QR codes alone cannot be used to hack bank accounts, but warned they could still play a role in broader fraud schemes.
“Through QR codes as of today, they cannot hack our bank accounts; scammers can only deposit money.
“But once again, I would like to emphasise that QR codes can facilitate other fraudulent processes or activities when combined with phishing and telephone scams,” he told Harian Metro.
He explained that openly sharing such codes enables cybercriminals to gather fragments of personal data, which can later be combined to build detailed digital profiles of individuals.
“Unethical parties actually collect small pieces of information about us little by little until they form a complete digital profile.
“Once the information is complete, it can be used for fraudulent purposes,” he said.
According to Rahmat, these profiles are often used to lend credibility to scams, including impersonation of bank officials, police officers or government agencies.
He also warned that receiving money from unknown parties could unknowingly entangle individuals in financial crimes, as their accounts may be used as conduits for illicit transactions, potentially exposing them to investigation.
Separately, Penang Mufti Mohd Sukki Othman said openly displaying bank QR codes to request ‘duit raya’ without genuine need does not align with Islamic values.
“If it is done without necessity, it can be considered a culture of begging that is discouraged and affects one’s dignity.
“Islam encourages charity and the giving of gifts sincerely, not through open requests on social media,” he said.
He added that charity given willingly carries greater spiritual value, while contributions made out of obligation or social pressure may diminish both the reward and its blessing. - March 24, 2026
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