In case you were still not convinced that technology and smartphones have completely taken over the world, here’s some more material that will make any doubts go away.

QR codes and smartphones are now the latest tools of Chinese beggars. So now when you’re in the mood to give, all you need to do is take out your phone and transfer them some money to their account.

These savy beggars are mostly found in Jinan, Shandong. They gather together in tourist areas with bowls with a QR code printed out. They make it much easier for people who don’t have cash on them, and make business for themselves thrive a lot more too.

But wait, how come Chinese beggars have smartphones? Apparently its not such a rare concept.  One beggar using the QR code method was apparently a man with a mental disability and his family helped him set up the code.

Not only is the QR code beneficial for beggars, but it was been reported that local businesses pay the beggars too for using the QR code, with commission on each transaction.

These companies use the scans to gather data from people’s profiles and then sell the identifications for no small price to small businesses.  They then used the obtained information to harass the users with unwanted advertisements.

Each QR code scan will pay beggars somewhere between $0.10-$0.22. An entire work week can add up to $685, which is not bad especially in relation to the Chinese wages.

From an outside perspective, it probably does not sound that strange. But China is in fact the closest country to having a completely cashless economy,  for the mere reason that QR codes are so popular.

The barcodes are used in several ways, whether it be to purchase items in store, to tip waiters in restaurants and even to give wedding gifts.

The amount of mobile payments in China is even more than 50 times the amount used in the U.S. China is on the verge of a code economy.