On 1000 graves

Mysterious QR codes keep Munich police busy

The reasons for this are still unclear, but the case is being investigated for damage to property (symbolic image).(Bild: APA/Max Slovencik)

Mysterious QR codes have appeared on around 1000 graves in three Munich cemeteries. According to the police, the city's cemetery administrations are not aware of any possible digitization or similar initiatives. They were therefore contacted.

According to the police, when the QR codes are scanned, a text field appears in which the inscriptions and the location of the respective grave are described. The police assume that the campaign has been organized over a long period of time. A system of QR codes has not yet been identified.

NRW also affected by mysterious codes
Fake QR codes have also appeared on parking ticket machines in North Rhine-Westphalia in recent days. Anyone scanning them is directed to a fraudulent website that requests personal data and bank information. In Dortmund, unknown persons have affixed the manipulated codes to at least 90 municipal parking machines in order to steal data and deprive users of their parking money. Such QR codes were also discovered in Cologne. The police have launched an investigation.

Background still unclear
The background remains unclear. They are investigating damage to property. The average damage per grave could amount to 500 euros and the total damage caused by the campaign is in the mid six-figure range.

According to the investigators, the stickers on the gravestones are difficult to remove. If the case is not resolved, the gravestones will have to be dismantled, sanded down and reinstalled.