DUBAI — Abu Dhabi Police have issued an urgent warning to residents regarding a sharp spike in cyber fraud and digital financial scams, which routinely peak around monthly salary distribution periods. According to law enforcement authorities, sophisticated criminal networks are aggressively deploying fake commercial promotions, fraudulent mirror websites, and deceptive social media advertisements to compromise personal data and drain bank accounts. Police highlighted a wide array of active scams currently circulating across the emirate, ranging from phantom real estate listings for holiday chalets and villas to counterfeit job opportunities, unauthorized insurance packages, bogus domestic labor recruitment agencies, and fraudulent auctions for vehicles allegedly impounded by Abu Dhabi Customs.
The public advisory also flagged high-end retail and investment traps, including online ads offering luxury watches and premium vehicle registration plates at impossible discounts, alongside high-yield investment schemes promising unrealistic financial returns. Fraudsters are also tricking targets into buying fake event tickets, installing malicious remote-access software on their personal devices, or paying upfront processing fees for non-existent training certificates. In response, Abu Dhabi Police have categorically urged the public never to share sensitive banking credentials, passwords, or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) under any circumstances. Residents are strictly advised to bypass search engine ad links, verify seller legitimacy before executing money transfers, and utilize only verified government portals. Suspicious activities can be reported immediately to the Aman service via phone (8002626), SMS (2828), or email (aman@adpolice.gov.ae).
