Verifying that an insurance firm holds a valid licence before handing over any payment is the single safeguard Dubai Police want residents to remember, as scammers increasingly pose as legitimate providers on social media.
The appeal came from the Anti-Fraud Centre, which sits within the General Department of Criminal Investigation and is running the continuing #BewareofFraud campaign. According to the Centre, bogus insurance firms and offices prey on shoppers hunting for bargains, dangling cut-rate deals as bait for financial scams.
Such operators circulate marketing that advertises coverage well under standard market rates, the Centre said. Many present themselves as offering on-the-spot vehicle or health insurance, pushing customers to send money before checking whether the provider is properly licensed and authorised by the UAE’s relevant authorities.
Genuine insurance companies in the country, the Centre noted, function under the supervision of the competent regulatory bodies and follow set procedures when issuing policies and protecting the interests of their clients.
Residents were reminded to treat promotions that fall outside ordinary pricing with suspicion and not to be swayed by offers that look too generous to be real.
Anyone who encounters a suspected scam can flag it through the eCrime platform, while non-emergency reports can be made by dialling 901.
