Dubai Police has issued a strong public warning about the dangers of interacting with unknown QR codes, emphasizing that scanning unverified codes can expose users to sophisticated cyber fraud and lead to the theft of sensitive personal and financial data within seconds.

This alert comes as part of the ongoing “Be Aware of Fraud” campaign, which aims to strengthen public awareness and educate residents about the latest scam techniques used by cybercriminals, particularly those leveraging QR code technology distributed through SMS messages, emails, and even public spaces.

Authorities explained that scammers are now designing highly convincing QR codes that appear legitimate and attractive, often promoting fake rewards, exclusive discounts, or limited-time offers, which increases the likelihood of users scanning them without proper verification.

Once scanned, users are redirected to fraudulent websites engineered to mimic trusted platforms, where they are prompted to enter critical information such as banking details, login credentials, or personal identification data, allowing hackers to gain unauthorized access to accounts and devices within a very short time.

Dubai Police stressed the importance of avoiding any QR codes from unknown or suspicious sources and urged individuals to verify digital content before interacting with it, while also encouraging immediate reporting of suspicious links or codes through official channels including the eCrime platform, dedicated email services, or the non-emergency hotline 901, highlighting that public awareness remains the most effective defense against cybercrime.