A long-time Bur Dubai resident and single mother, Sarika Thadani, fell victim to a phishing scam that cost her nearly AED10,000 after attempting to order a meal online. The incident highlights the growing threat of fraudulent websites posing as legitimate food delivery services.
According to a Khaleej Times report, on July 31, Sarika, who has lived in Dubai for 20 years, ordered a meal worth AED29 through a Facebook advertisement offering discounts from a popular fried chicken outlet. She planned to treat her staff on her mother’s birthday. However, after entering the OTP provided by her bank, she was shocked to discover that her account was charged AED2,020 instead.
Sarika immediately contacted her bank, only to learn that multiple unauthorized transactions had been made, totaling AED9,872. Despite her quick action, the bank was unable to stop the payments. Sarika was advised to file a complaint with the police, which she did, but the bank later informed her that the transactions had been processed because she had provided the OTP.
This scam is not an isolated case, with other Dubai residents experiencing similar ordeals after being lured by enticing online offers. Cybersecurity experts warn that these incidents are part of a rising trend of phishing scams, urging the public to be cautious when making online purchases.
Authorities and banks continue to stress the importance of verifying the authenticity of websites before entering any sensitive information, especially when deals seem too good to be true.