Indian expat Emmanuel Thomas, 51, lost Dh22,000 to a telephone scam last year. Photo: Emmanuel Thomas
Indian expat Emmanuel Thomas, 51, lost Dh22,000 to a telephone scam last year. Photo: Emmanuel Thomas
Indian expat Emmanuel Thomas, 51, lost Dh22,000 to a telephone scam last year. Photo: Emmanuel Thomas
Indian expat Emmanuel Thomas, 51, lost Dh22,000 to a telephone scam last year. Photo: Emmanuel Thomas

Fraud victims who lost thousands call for 'extreme caution' over online payments


  • English
  • Arabic

UAE residents who lost thousands of dirhams to financial scams have urged others to take "extreme caution" over online payments and sharing personal details.

Several victims told The National they were caught out by phone calls purporting to be from police officers or others in authority.

Senior officials stressed that no law enforcement personnel would ever ask for anyone's bank account details.

"The key factor to bringing down the number of incidents and victims is by creating more awareness," said Yousif Al Ali, chief prosecutor at Dubai Prosecution's Bur Dubai division.

Authorities would never ask you for this data
Yousif Al Ali,
Dubai Prosecution, Bur Dubai division

"Official authorities would never ask you for this data.”

A survey last year by Visa and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism found one in three consumers in the Emirates struggle to spot the signs of fraud and scams. In the UAE, cyber crime costs $746 million a year and involves more than 166,000 victims, according to research by UK consumer watchdog Comparitech.

Worldwide, scams have been on the rise as more of our everyday lives involve online payments, with a sharp rise in crimes since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Fake threat over 'Covid violation'

Emmanuel Thomas, 51, a financial manager in a Korean company's Dubai office, lost Dh22,000 ($5990) last year to a fraudster.

He received a call from an unknown number from someone claiming to be an officer from Dubai Police.

The caller claimed that documents Mr Thomas had uploaded to the UAE's Al Hosn Covid-19 app were fake.

“I was driving and panicked ... he said I would be deported within 10 days,” said the Indian expat, who has lived in the Emirates since 2002.

“My daughter, who tested negative for Covid-19 in India, turned positive when she took a blood test in the UAE. She did undergo a quarantine but I thought we may have committed a violation."

_____________________________________

From phishing to smishing: know your scams

  • The use of technology in everyday lives has led to growth in scams and fraud. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The use of technology in everyday lives has led to growth in scams and fraud. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Phishing is one of the most common methods used by fraudsters and it involves sending an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The National
    Phishing is one of the most common methods used by fraudsters and it involves sending an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The National
  • Smishing — the SMS equivalent of phishing — is where fraudsters falsify the telephone number so it appears to be a genuine text from a bank or well-known company. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Smishing — the SMS equivalent of phishing — is where fraudsters falsify the telephone number so it appears to be a genuine text from a bank or well-known company. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Vishing is the telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. Getty Images
    Vishing is the telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. Getty Images
  • SIM swap involves fraudsters duplicating the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank. AP
    SIM swap involves fraudsters duplicating the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank. AP
  • Identity theft is where someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks. Getty Images
    Identity theft is where someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks. Getty Images
  • Prize scams involve fraudsters claiming to represent well-known organisations. They contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
    Prize scams involve fraudsters claiming to represent well-known organisations. They contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
  • Instagram influencer Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, used a technique known as business email compromise.
    Instagram influencer Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, used a technique known as business email compromise.
  • The tax authority said some bank customers in the UAE have received phishing emails impersonating financial institutions. EPA
    The tax authority said some bank customers in the UAE have received phishing emails impersonating financial institutions. EPA
  • Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor, says: ‘Scammers are relentless when it comes to wanting our personal information and ultimately our money.’ PA
    Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor, says: ‘Scammers are relentless when it comes to wanting our personal information and ultimately our money.’ PA
  • Netflix's The Tinder Swindler tells the story of three women who say they were conned out of $500. Photo: @simon_leviev_official via Instagram
    Netflix's The Tinder Swindler tells the story of three women who say they were conned out of $500. Photo: @simon_leviev_official via Instagram

_____________________________________

An unsuspecting Mr Thomas shared his bank account and credit card details with the con man to rectify what was claimed to be a fine.

It was all the more plausible, he said, as officials had recently set out a zero-tolerance approach to Covid rule-breaking.

"The ‘officer’ read out my Emirates ID number and even asked me about my daughter who was on a visit," he said. "How could a fraudster have these information?"

“I did not get time to think. I even shared the OTP [one-time password] number that was generated. In a few minutes, Dh 22,000 was wiped off my bank account."

He said the caller continued to pester him and started asking for his wife’s account details.

“When I reached home, my college-going children spoke to the man and told me I got scammed," he said.

"Though I filed a police complaint and also reported the matter to the bank, I could not recover my money."

Scams involving police, Dubai's immigration authority and UAE Central Bank have become more common.

Authorities have warned residents not to divulge their bank details to strangers or click on suspicious emails.

Cryptocurrency trading

Publicity around the fortunes made on cryptocurrencies has led to many more people getting involved in trading.

With that comes new types of financial fraud.

Ankit, a Dubai resident who has a wholesale business in electronic goods, lost Dh100,000 two weeks ago to a cryptocurrency swindle.

“I had a big order and I was trying to convert by USDT [an asset-based cryptocurrency stablecoin] to dirhams," he said, asking that his surname not be used.

I found an agent through the Telegram app and I met his middleman in person and verified their wallet. We even did a small transaction and that earned my trust.

“I was confident because I am used to doing transactions like this for better exchange rates.”

Scams involving lucky draws and prizes, like this one publicised by remittance house Al Ansari Exchange, have become more common. Photo: Al Ansari Exchange
Scams involving lucky draws and prizes, like this one publicised by remittance house Al Ansari Exchange, have become more common. Photo: Al Ansari Exchange

Ankit realised he was walking into a trap after he transferred USDT worth Dh100,000 to the agent’s wallet.

“The next thing I know is that his phone is switched off," he said.

"The middleman washed his hands of the deal, saying the money had gone to his boss’ wallet and that he was unreachable.

"I should have been more careful and gone with a more credible agent."

Although police are investigating the transaction, Ankit said: "It is difficult to predict who is trustworthy and who is scammer."

Yousif Al Ali, head of Bur Dubai Prosecution, is urging the public to avoid clicking on suspicious links. Photo: Dubai Public Prosecution
Yousif Al Ali, head of Bur Dubai Prosecution, is urging the public to avoid clicking on suspicious links. Photo: Dubai Public Prosecution

Import duty and cheap meals

As awareness has grown around existing scams, criminals have branched out into new areas.

Police and prosecutors are particularly concerned about fake special offers for takeaway meals and delivery companies including Aramex and Emirates Post.

In the most convincing scams, the victim receives a link that asks them to pay an import tax.

This can be all the more convincing given recent changes to the threshold on goods imported from abroad.

Scammers have hired designers to make social media adverts as convincing as possible, while large Telegram groups with thousands of purchased phone numbers are used to spread fake links.

“Part of the gang is usually located outside the country and its role is to design fake social media pages and advertisements,” said Mr Al Ali.

“By clicking on the ads, choosing a product and making a payment, all credit card data is transferred electronically to an account."

Although it is difficult to empty someone's bank account without a full login and password, it is easy to quickly buy expensive goods online and sell them on.

“Victims who bought a meal as cheap as Dh30 find themselves charged thousands of dirhams for products they never receive," he said.

“People must know by now that they should never share such details or OTPs, especially since official authorities never ask for this data.

“I urge all members of the community not to click on any suspicious links or lucrative advertisements online.”

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday

AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)

Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)

Benevento v Parma (5pm)

Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)

Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)

Lazio v Spezia (5pm)

Napoli v Crotone (5pm)

Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)

Torino v Juventus (8pm)

Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The Old Slave and the Mastiff

Patrick Chamoiseau

Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets

ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

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The specs

Engine 60kwh FWD

Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power 204hp Torque 360Nm

Price, base / as tested Dh174,500 

US%20federal%20gun%20reform%20since%20Sandy%20Hook
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Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR

US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)

Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)

Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)

SPEC%20SHEET
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Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Five expert hiking tips
    Always check the weather forecast before setting off Make sure you have plenty of water Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Take your litter home with you

 

 

How to turn your property into a holiday home
  1. Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
  2. Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
  3. Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
  4. Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
  5. Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Pathaan
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If you go

Flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.

The stay

Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

Specs

Engine: 2-litre

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 255hp

Torque: 273Nm

Price: Dh240,000

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

SPECS
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Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE

Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000

Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms

PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

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Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Updated: January 25, 2023, 12:00 PM