The article warns that scammers may use personal information from data brokers and people-search websites to make fraud attempts at doctors’ surgeries appear legitimate. QR codes, text messages and postal notices can be designed to resemble routine medical, Medicare or payment communications, increasing the chance that patients disclose sensitive details.

The scams may ask for Medicare numbers, patient-portal credentials, card information or other personal data through convincing fake websites reached by QR code. The article advises caution around unexpected check-in, prescription and parking-payment prompts, particularly where a code or message requests information that a healthcare provider would not normally seek in that way.