Sharjah City Municipality issued a caution to residents, urging vigilance when paying fees or requesting municipal services online.
The authority advised avoiding the scanning of QR codes or clicking on links from unknown sources, warning that such actions could expose personal and financial information to fraudsters.
To stay safe, residents are encouraged to:
• Verify payment or service methods before use
• Avoid entering personal or financial information through unverified links or QR codes
• Use only officially approved municipal channels for transactions
This warning comes after similar advisories from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Parkin Company PJSC, following a viral video in December that exposed a QR code scam. Both entities confirmed that fraudulent QR codes on parking sign poles had been removed and updated to redirect users to the official RTA website.
Authorities cautioned that scammers may use QR codes or links to mislead users or direct them to phishing sites. “Users are therefore advised to always verify payment methods and refrain from entering personal information via unverified links or QR codes,” the advisory stated.
RTA and Parkin urged the public to rely exclusively on approved payment channels, including official mobile apps, SMS services, and designated payment machines. Residents were also encouraged to report any suspicious items on public property to help protect user security.
Sharjah Municipality has provided the following official channels for municipal services:
• Digital Sharjah App
• Official website: www.shjmun.gov.ae
• SMS parking payment: via 5566
• Authorized payment devices and systems
Residents who encounter suspicious links or QR codes related to municipal services are urged to report them immediately by calling the Call Center at 993.
