UAE warns against fraudsters who offer huge discounts on famous brands through e-commerce platforms

The UAE government's Cyber Security Council has warned that scammers are lurking at e-commerce platforms to lure users with enticing offers and seemingly trustworthy pages, and steal their data and money by offering unrealistic prices.

However, scammers lie in wait behind fake links, ready to trap victims as soon as they click. The Council urged consumers not to be deceived by fraudulent advertisements and to verify information before making any purchases.

Through its official social media accounts, the Council explained that fraudsters lure shoppers with offers of famous brands, such as 'luxury shoes with a 90% discount' and 'limited quantity... hurry and buy', which are so fantastical that they are hard to believe.

After completing the payment process, the user may receive a counterfeit product, a different product to the one ordered, or nothing at all. They may then receive a message stating that the 'no returns, no refunds' policy applies. It is therefore crucial to review customer feedback and seller ratings, and to verify the return and refund policies before making a payment.

The cyber security council pointed out that scammers are now using advanced digital techniques to impersonate celebrities and send fake messages containing such promises to potential victims. One example is the message, “You have been chosen to win hand-signed products specially for you.” These messages rely on false promises and accompany requests for sums of money to be paid in advance, such as 'Please send Dhs100 UAE as a delivery fee to receive your products', which is a sign to exercise caution and not interact.

It urged users to examine suspicious messages and verify their authenticity before responding, and to avoid paying any money without first confirming the credibility of the sender.

It also recommended using the 'Sago WhatsApp Chatbot' service to verify messages and links, stressing that awareness and vigilance are the first line of defence against online scams.