Sharjah warns residents against fake QR codes and links

Sharjah City Municipality in Thursday issued a warning to residents, urging them to be careful when paying fees or requesting municipal services online.

The authority said that to prevent fraud, avoid scanning QR codes or accessing links from unknown sources. If not vigilant, scanning or opening unknown links can expose personal and financial information to potential online fraud.

Residents are advised to follow a few safety measures to avoid these risks:

• Always verify the payment or service method before use

• Never enter personal or financial data through unverified links or QR codes

• Use only the municipality's officially approved channels for services

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The Sharjah authority’s warning follows similar advisories issued by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Parkin Company PJSC after a QR code scam surfaced in a viral video in December.

Both entities urged residents and road users to avoid scanning QR codes or clicking links from suspicious or unofficial sources. They confirmed that all identified fraudulent QR codes had been removed from parking sign poles, and any misused codes were updated to redirect users to the official RTA website.

The authorities cautioned that such practices may be used to mislead users or direct them to phishing websites. “Users are therefore advised to always verify payment methods before proceeding and to refrain from entering any personal information through unverified links or QR codes,” the advisory said.

RTA and Parkin further encouraged the public to rely exclusively on approved and recognised payment channels, including official mobile applications, SMS services and designated payment machines. Residents were also urged to report any suspicious items found on public property through official channels to help enhance awareness and protect user security.

Sharjah Municipality urges residents who encounter suspicious links or QR codes related to municipal services to report them immediately by calling the Call Center at 993.

To assist customers, the authority also provided the approved service channels:

• Digital Sharjah App

• Official website: www.shjmun.gov.ae

• SMS parking payment service: via 5566

• Authorised payment devices and systems