Abu Dhabi Police return Dh140 million to victims of online fraud - stay alert, brothers and sisters
Assalamu alaikum. Police in Abu Dhabi have recovered Dh140 million that was stolen by online scammers over the past two years and have returned the funds to the victims. This came after investigations into more than 15,640 cybercrime cases, officials said at a recent briefing.
One frequent trick was fake offers of cheap gold - people paid and never received anything. Other scammers pretended to be government staff and asked for banking details or tried to install software to access phones and laptops. Lt Col Ahmed Al Shamsi said: “We received 15,642 cases related to online fraud and we managed to recover Dh140 million to the victims in last two years.”
There were also scams targeting those looking to buy or rent homes. Criminals posed as agents or owners and asked for a deposit to book a property. The advice from police: always verify through official channels before sending money.
The announcement launched the force’s annual “Be Careful” campaign to raise awareness about cybercrime. Lt Col Ali Al Nuaimi, director of the cybercrime division, said the campaign will warn people about fake links sent by SMS, email or social apps. He reminded people to be cautious when clicking links and to check website addresses carefully - for local sites look for the .ae suffix.
With gold prices up, adverts promising unusually low prices or big discounts have been used to trick buyers into paying. In one case an overseas scammer convinced a resident to pay Dh1,500 as a deposit for a discounted chalet, asking for her Emirates ID to “confirm” the booking. The scammer was part of a gang that used her details to open bank accounts and defraud others. The gang also sold fake items on social media, from special car plates to properties and even livestock.
Brig Rashid Al Dhaheri said the campaign will run until the end of the year and aims to increase security awareness across the community, focusing on youth, blue-collar workers and domestic workers who are common targets. Abu Dhabi Police urged everyone to be vigilant and report suspected scams promptly by visiting a police station, calling the Aman service on 800 2626, or sending a text to 2828.
May Allah protect us from deceit and grant us wisdom in our transactions. If you suspect fraud, please report it and check things through trusted, official channels before sharing personal information or sending money. Wa alaikum assalam.
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