Abu Dhabi Police bust online fraudster, warn of viral social media scams

Abu Dhabi: As part of an intensified campaign against cybercrime, Abu Dhabi Police have recently arrested a fraudster who stole money from a victim using a phishing link disguised as a government service.
Simultaneously, police have issued a warning about five of the most widespread fraudulent ads on social media, which all follow the same tactic: enticing victims with highly attractive and illogical prices.

The Abu Dhabi Police Cybercrime Division, under the broader public safety campaign, revealed that one of the most common methods used by online scammers is through fake ads posted on social media platforms. These remain among the most dangerous and deceptive practices, ensnaring victims from nearly every segment of society. The police highlighted that such ads include rentals and sales of chalets, flats, and houses. Other scams involve offers to sell livestock, animal feed, majlis furnishings, and vehicles – as well as the provision of domestic workers – all promoted at prices that are both illogical and disconnected from market realities. 

‘Security and Safety’ campaign

Lieutenant Colonel Ali Faris Al Nuaimi, Head of the Cybercrime Division within the Criminal Investigations Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, unveiled the latest trends in online fraud during an episode of the radio programme ‘Aman wa Aman’ (Security and Safety), produced by the Security Media Department.

He stated that one of the emerging and increasingly common tactics on social media involves luring victims with enticing adverts for picturesque chalets at unbelievably low prices. These ads are part of a scam to defraud victims of their money.

Another rising trend is fraudulent car sale ads, which mimic the chalet scams by listing vehicles at unrealistically low prices – well below the value found in authorised dealerships within the UAE – to lure victims into making payments.

Fake ads offering workers

Lt Col Al Nuaimi reported a surge in ads offering outdoor tents for homes or indoor majlis sets. Scammers often repurpose legitimate listings by altering contact details and reposting the ads under fraudulent accounts. Victims are then tricked into transferring deposits under the impression they are reserving a shipment, only to later discover they have been conned.

Similar scams include listings for domestic workers, livestock, and animal feed, again exploiting low prices to trap unsuspecting buyers. He added that these scams tend to spike around public holidays and festive seasons when people are more likely to make purchases. The advertisements are broadcast randomly across social media to reach a wide pool of potential victims.

Al Nuaimi urged the public to remain vigilant. He advised people to examine suspicious accounts carefully – most fraudulent profiles have few followers, no comments on their posts, and the comments feature is typically disabled, indicating a lack of credibility.

Real estate fraud on the rise

He warned of a growing wave of property scams involving the rental of flats, houses, and villas at wildly unrealistic prices. One such case involved a property advertised for Dh60,000 when its actual rental value was Dh250,000 per annum. These schemes typically involve forged rental contracts and documents referencing non-existent companies or offices, designed to deceive victims into paying large deposits – or, in some cases, the full amount upfront – before the scammer vanishes. 

‘Fraud as government fees’

Lt Col Al Nuaimi spoke about a recent cyber fraud case uncovered by the Criminal Investigations Directorate. The incident began when a victim received a text message containing a phishing link, purporting to come from an official authority requesting a fee for a service. The link redirected the victim to a counterfeit website that closely resembled the legitimate one.

Upon entering his credit card details, the victim was then redirected to a second page to confirm the transaction, during which he input his OTP (one-time password). Despite receiving no confirmation from his bank, the transaction was processed by the scammer, who had already registered the victim’s card on a mobile device for future use. The following day, the victim discovered a substantial amount had been withdrawn from his account, used to make a purchase at a retail store.

An investigation was swiftly launched, resulting in the identification and arrest of the individual who benefited from the fraudulent transaction. Legal proceedings are currently underway.

The public is strongly encouraged to report suspected fraud incidents promptly via the Police Centre app or by contacting the ‘Aman’ service on 8002626.