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Shoppers scanning matrix barcodes for discounts are getting more than they bargained for - malicious software.

A growing number of people are reporting scams involvingthe codes, the black-and-white squares now seen on most advertisements.

When shoppers use smartphones to scan the codes, their devices open a website for a company or product and often receive a discount voucher.

However, instead of receiving a bonus, many people say they have fallen victim to crooks.

Media in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province, reported on Monday that a woman had money wiped from her phone account after scanning a matrix barcode on an ad on the wall of a bus stop.

The woman, identified only as Liu, immediately received a text message saying she had been charged 100 yuan ($16).

"The code she scanned must have been malware, which can put the user's privacy at risk," said Zhao Zhiyu, a matrix barcode expert who used to apply the codes to medicine management.

Risks include corrupted privacy settings, identity theft, links to dangerous websites containing browser exploits and even viruses.

But the two-dimensional codes do provide conveniences for smartphone users, Zhao said.

For example, users can install a program after scanning a specific code, saving time for them.

"It's not difficult to generate a code based on their own needs, since there are several types of software online," he said.

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