Dubai Police offer 10 tips to avoid online scams disguised as vehicle insurance

The Anti-Fraud Centre within the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police has warned the public about online fraud schemes targeting individuals seeking to renew or obtain vehicle insurance policies.

These fraudulent activities often involve advertisements, links, and online profiles posing as legitimate insurance companies, authorised entities, or brokers with the intent to steal money or extract personal and banking information.

Scammers typically attract victims with exceptionally low insurance offers or insist on urgent policy renewals. They then request that customers click on a link and input vehicle details, personal information, and bank card data, or share verification codes. The Centre emphasises the importance of confirming the recipient's legitimacy before making any financial transactions.

To help individuals avoid falling victim to vehicle insurance fraud, the Centre has shared ten precautionary tips:

• Verify the insurance company's credentials to ensure they are licensed and authorised before proceeding with any monetary transfers.

• Check that the beneficiary bank account directly belongs to the insurance firm, avoiding personal accounts or those unrelated to the company.

• Do not trust advertisements or messages received through social media without first verifying the authenticity and official information of the advertiser.

• Review insurance policy details to ensure that the names of the insurance company and broker, along with all other information, align with official records.

• Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources that claim to offer insurance quotes or vehicle policy renewals.

• Beware of offers with prices that are unusually low compared to standard rates, as these could be deceptive tactics to trap victims.

• Never share bank card details, passwords, or verification codes with individuals claiming to be from the insurance company.

• Contact the insurance company through official channels to confirm any offer or payment request before making any financial transactions.

• Keep copies of transfer receipts, correspondence, and offers for future reference or in case a fraud report needs to be filed.

• If there's a suspicion of fraud, one should cease all financial transactions and immediately contact the bank and relevant authorities.