If you’ve ever scanned a random QR code without thinking twice, you are risking your life without a slight hint of the trouble, and Sharjah Police just proved it. Sharjah conducted an experiment that amused and mildly horrified the public. Sharjah Police planted fake ‘Free WiFi’ QR Codes across the emirate to gauge public awareness, and the results are shocking.
Sharjah’s ‘Free WiFi’ QR Stunt Exposes How Quickly People Fall For Cyber Traps
Here’s what the police did: they placed a plain, unbranded QR code in a public area with the words “Free WiFi.” That’s it. No logo. No sign. No explanation. Just a digital bait waiting for a curious tap.
Within no time, 89 people scanned it. No hesitation, zero suspicion. Just pure, unfiltered trust.
According to Gulf News, Sharjah Police made one thing very clear: the issue isn’t the QR code itself. The risk comes from public behaviour and how casually we treat anything that looks convenient. We’ve grown so used to scanning QR codes at cafés, shops, parking lots, and even for menus, that we don’t stop to ask who put it there or where the link leads.
A dodgy code can do more than open a webpage. It can lead you to a fake site designed to steal your details, push hidden downloads, or sneak into your accounts. Think of it like clicking a random link and getting trapped.
A Simple Question Saves You A Headache & Maybe Money
The police boiled digital safety down to one golden rule:
Before scanning, ask yourself, “Do I trust the source?”
If your answer sounds like, “Hmm… maybe?” That’s your cue to take a step back and pretend you never saw it.
Cyber Awareness Isn’t Optional Anymore
With QR codes now tied to payments, banking, digital menus, parking, and event check-ins, the need to stay alert has only grown. Sharjah Police stressed that a single moment of caution can prevent a whole lot of chaos later.
And honestly, Cybercrime is getting sharper, faster, and sneakier. The least we can do is not hand over our digital lives to a random sticker on a wall.
Also Read: Sharjah Police Airlifts Injured Motorcyclist After Desert Crash In Al Madam
More Awareness Campaigns Coming Up
The police say this is just the beginning. They’ll continue rolling out awareness drives to help residents stay ahead of new online threats and build better digital habits.
It’s not the tech, it is us, our behavioural pattern of trusting a random QR code for free wifi.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/charliepix
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