MOF: Viral poster claiming QR payment charges from Nov 1 is fake

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has dismissed a viral poster claiming that service charges will be imposed on QR payments starting 1 November 2026. In a Facebook post, the ministry said the information in the poster is false and urged the public not to believe or share it.

According to MOF, there has been no official announcement on any service charge for QR payments as claimed in the poster, which has been circulating on social media. The ministry also advised the public to always get accurate information from its official channels before sharing anything online, to avoid spreading fake news that could mislead the public.

That said, it’s worth noting that this is separate from the fees that some banks charge merchants for accepting DuitNow QR payments. Earlier this month, RHB announced that it will charge merchants up to 0.60% on DuitNow QR payments from 26 October, with a rate of 0.35% for payments made from a bank account or e-wallet and 0.60% for those funded by a credit card.

These charges, known as the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), are paid by businesses and not by customers making the payment. In other words, the fee isn’t charged to you directly when you scan a QR code to pay, although it’s up to each business whether to pass the cost on to customers.

So if you come across a similar poster or message about QR payment charges, it’s best to check it against official sources such as MOF, Bank Negara Malaysia or your bank before passing it on.

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