Sharjah Police bust fake rental scam, dismantle cyber fraud network and arrest 13 suspects

In an operation dubbed 'Shebak Al-Wahm' (The Illusion Trap), Sharjah Police successfully dismantled an electronic fraud network and uncovered a fake rental scheme.

Thirteen suspects of Asian nationality were arrested for committing fraud through 'fake rentals' as part of an organised electronic network whose activities involved trapping victims according to a well-thought-out plan.

In a statement shared on the Sharjah Police's official account on the X platform, it was explained that the fraudulent network's scheme to trap victims was based on seven main pillars.

These were: posting a fake advertisement; contacting the victim; arranging a meeting; receiving a financial deposit; signing fake contracts; fleeing; and transferring the money out of the country.

In response to this organised criminal activity, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Sharjah Police arrested all members of the gang in a special operation called 'Shebak Al Wahm' (Illusion Trap) and brought them to justice.

Brigadier Omar Ahmed Bualazoud, Director General of the General Directorate of Criminal Security and Ports at Sharjah Police, confirmed that the gang was well organised, with specific roles assigned to each member.

However, it was the efficiency and high level of expertise of the criminal investigators, combined with the advanced human and technical capabilities of Sharjah Police, that led to the gang's movements being uncovered and its dismantling.

He thanked the field teams for their hard work and praised the police leadership for their constant commitment to using the latest technologies to enhance security and protect society.

Colonel Dr. Khalifa Balhai, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Sharjah Police, provided details of the incident, explaining that a report had been received from one of the victims stating that she had been defrauded after responding to a real estate advertisement on a website.

She contacted the advertiser and viewed the apartment she wanted to rent. After paying the deposit and signing the required documents, the suspect fled and blocked the victim's number.

Colonel Dr. Khalifa Balhai, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Sharjah Police, pointed out that, despite the gang's efforts to cover their tracks by planning their movements carefully and destroying phone SIM cards after each operation, the efficiency of the investigation teams, their advanced digital systems, and their expertise in monitoring and analysis contributed to tracking the gang's activities and arrested its members one by one.

The Sharjah Police called on members of the community to verify the authenticity of real estate advertisements published on websites and social media platforms.

This advisory comes with a recommendation to ascertain the reliability of the advertisers before entering into any financial transactions.

The police emphasised the significance of abstaining from the transfer or allocation of monetary sums, or the endorsement of contractual agreements, prior to the authentication of the credibility of the offers and the entities behind them.

The community awareness is the primary line of defence in combating such crimes and protecting individuals from their dangers, the police added.