'Safety and data privacy?': Pune woman reveals restaurant worker used QR Menu to find her number and harass her

In a video that is quickly gaining traction online, a Pune woman revealed how a trip to the restaurant turned into a nightmare afterwards. The woman identified as Rishika Dutta, took to Instagram to share a video sharing her experience and claimed that the incident happened after she visited a popular restaurant on FC Road on April 28.

According to her, she had scanned a QR code placed on the table to access the menu, something numerous restaurants now use instead of printed cards. Dutta said that later the same night, she began receiving messages from an unknown number. After checking the identity of the sender and communicating with him, she found out that the person worked at the same restaurant where she had been earlier.

She suspected that the phone number had been taken from the QR-based menu system used by the outlet. Screenshots shared by her in the video showed the man trying to start a conversation, asking about her age and attempting to become her friend.

The woman said the incident left her disturbed, especially because she had never shared her number directly with any employee during her visit. She said she informed the restaurant about it and they claimed to have fired the employee from all their branches. However, when she asked for a termination letter or an apology email, neither was shared.

She also asked people to raise their voice against data breach, saying "the next time you are scanning a QR code remember you are not just ordering food, aap apni safety aur database platter par inhe serve kar rahe ho."

"Got a late-night text from a number I didn’t recognise- turns out visiting a certain spot on FC Road came with more than just a good time. Your data shouldn’t follow you home.�� Stay aware!!" wrote the woman in the caption.

Social media reaction

The incident quickly sparked online reactions considering it was through a QR code that the number was obtained.

"Thanks for sharing dear will be aware of the same," wrote one user.

"This is the reason that I always ask my male friends to scan the QR whether it's for the menu or while paying the bill. I pay my friends the money I owe of the bill but I avoid scanning those QRs," shared another.

"I was never comfortable in scanning these QRs. Thanks for sharing this. Now we all got the reason," wrote one.

"UPI ID generally contains phone number, but can be customized to a general ID without revealing the phone number! Please change it as one of the safety measures!!!" advised one.