A kuih seller in Melaka has reportedly stopped accepting QR payments after allegedly falling victim to customers who used edited payment receipts to make it appear that they had paid.
The incident was shared by a Malaysian on Threads after they visited a kuih stall near Klebang Restu and noticed a handwritten sign stating, “Tiada QR Hari Ini” — meaning QR payments were unavailable that day.
When asked why, the elderly seller allegedly said she had been cheated by customers on several occasions.
“Many people cheated me. A lot of the money didn’t come in. They edited the receipt. Even the sound was the same,” the seller was quoted as saying.
According to the person who shared the story, the seller had apparently received screenshots that looked like legitimate payment confirmations, only to discover that the money had never actually reached her account.
The claim has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear how many times the seller was allegedly affected or how much money she may have lost.
The incident nevertheless prompted Malaysians online to share suggestions on how small traders could reduce the risk of payment scams.
One suggestion was for sellers to generate the QR payment request themselves by entering the exact amount through their banking or e-wallet application before displaying the QR code to customers. This would make it harder for someone to simply present an edited payment screenshot.
Others recommended using payment soundboxes that announce incoming transactions and the amount received.
However, some noted that traders should still check the amount against the purchase, particularly during busy periods, as an audio notification alone may not guarantee that the correct payment has been received.
Several commenters also advised small businesses not to rely solely on screenshots shown by customers and to verify that the transaction has actually appeared in their account.
Some Malaysians sympathised with the seller, noting that elderly traders may find it challenging to monitor banking applications, transaction alerts and payment devices while simultaneously serving customers.
The discussion serves as a reminder that while cashless payments offer convenience, a payment screenshot shown by a customer should not necessarily be treated as proof that the money has successfully reached the seller’s account.
