Residents across the UEA, including Dubai, are being cautioned against a rising wave of sophisticated scams. Experts, lawyers, and leading banks have issued warnings about fraudulent activities involving entities impersonating Dubai Police, prominent banks, and government bodies. These scams, often conducted via phone calls or emails, are aimed at extracting sensitive personal data.
In Dubai, residents have been targeted with emails falsely claiming to be from the traffic department, demanding payment for traffic fines. The emails, complete with official logos and stern warnings, urge recipients to pay within 24 hours. Similarly, the UAE bank FAB has alerted its customers about a scam involving messages about winning a prize, warning them against paying any advance fee.
Emirates NBD has initiated a UAE-wide safe banking campaign following reports of their customers being targeted. Emirates Post has also reported an increase in fraudulent messages, prompting them to issue a public warning.
Michael Kortbawi, Partner at BSA law firm in the UAE, notes that these scams have become more sophisticated and prevalent, particularly during holiday seasons. Scammers, posing as officials from banks or government bodies, often seek personal details like Emirates ID information, passport numbers, and dates of birth.
One notable case involved a victim losing $410,000 to fraudsters posing as UAE immigration officials. Common indicators of scams include unsolicited communications, requests for personal data, pressure tactics, and promises of rewards for upfront payments. Residents are reminded that legitimate authorities or banks will not contact them via mobile numbers for such matters.
In response, Dubai Police has intensified efforts to combat these scams, although apprehending the perpetrators is challenging due to their operations often being based outside the UAE. The country has stringent laws against cybercrime, identity theft, and financial fraud, with severe penalties for those caught.
Residents are advised to verify the legitimacy of any communication, report suspicious activities to the authorities, and avoid sharing sensitive information online or over the phone. With over 71 million cyber attacks blocked in the UAE in the first three quarters of 2023, the importance of vigilance and caution cannot be overstated.