Dubai Police warn residents against fake online holiday travel deals

Dubai Police warned against falling victim to electronic fraud related to fake travel and tourism promotions, which are particularly active during holiday seasons and summer vacations, exploiting individuals' and families' wish to obtain low-priced offers and attractive bookings to international tourist destinations.

The Anti-Fraud Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigations at Dubai Police affirmed that fraudsters resort to creating fake websites or bogus accounts on social media platforms, through which they display travel packages, hotels, and airline tickets at prices much lower than actual market prices, with the aim of luring victims and encouraging them to quickly transfer money before the fraud is discovered.

The Centre explained that some fake entities use professional logos and images, and impersonate the names of well-known tourism companies or licensed travel agencies so that their advertisements gain credibility.

Fraudsters then communicate with victims via chat applications or phone calls to persuade them to quickly complete bookings, claiming limited availability or that the offer will expire within hours, the centre clarified.

Dubai Police pointed out that many victims later discover that the bookings are not real, or that the travel tickets and hotels are not confirmed, after they have transferred money to personal accounts or unknown payment links, which leads to financial losses and difficulties related to travel and family holiday plans.

The Police urged the public to exercise caution and not be swayed by misleading advertisements or offers that seem illogical compared to prevailing prices, emphasising the importance of dealing only with accredited and licensed tourism companies and offices within the country or through official, trusted platforms.

They also stressed the importance of verifying the authenticity of electronic links before entering any personal or banking data, and paying attention to the fact that some fake websites may closely resemble original websites, with minor differences in the domain name or writing style, which requires careful scrutiny before completing any electronic payment transaction.

Dubai Police affirmed the necessity of avoiding transferring money to personal or anonymous accounts, not sharing bank card details, secret codes, or passwords with any untrusted entity, and reporting fraud or suspicious websites through official channels, either via the "e-Crime" platform or by calling 901 for non-emergency cases.