Dubai Police warn against E-scams involving fake discount offers

The Anti-Fraud Centre at Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation (CID) has issued a warning about scams perpetrated under the guise of discount offers on various products, including food items, restaurant deals, resort bookings, and more.

As part of their ongoing campaign "Be Aware of Fraud," Dubai Police urged the public to exercise caution and take proactive measures to avoid falling victim to such schemes.

The police advised the public to avoid overly enticing or unrealistic offers and refraining from clicking on suspicious links or sharing them with others, to verify the credibility of advertisements by checking the publisher’s account, review user ratings, comments, and previous experiences on social media platforms or websites.

If there are indications of scam activity, avoid the platform immediately and report it. The police also advise to monitor the language and phrasing used in ads or websites as poor grammar, spelling errors, or unprofessional wording are red flags for potential scams, and to contact the official product owner directly through their customer service or verified website to confirm the legitimacy of the offer.

Dubai Police also emphasised the importance of not clicking on suspicious links, not sharing personal or banking information, and never sending ID numbers, credit card details, or OTP (One-Time Password) codes received from banks unless the recipient’s authenticity is 100% verified.

The public is encouraged to report any suspicious ads or fraud attempts immediately via the Dubai Police smart app or by calling 901. Authorities stressed that individual awareness and cooperation are the first line of defence against such transnational crimes, which exploit advancements in digital communication.