Pets for sale swindle: Abu Dhabi Police issue warning of fake web ads

Abu Dhabi Police has warned the public to be wary of online adverts offering pets for sale or adoption.

The force said fraudsters are preying on people looking for furry friends on social media.

While people offering animals sometimes ask for shipping and insurance money from abroad, criminals typically insist on the cash being transferred directly into their account or through local and international exchange agents licensed in their country.

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Rashidi, director of the criminal security sector at Abu Dhabi police, urged people to report such adverts.

He said fraudsters take advantage of the victims by offering goods or services at competitive prices.

These businesses are not registered in the UAE and use bogus phone numbers. Many such cases have been reported, Maj Gen Al Rashidi said.

Residents can file reports at their nearest police station, ring the 24-hour toll-free number 800 2626 or send a text message to 2828.

Thor: Ragnarok

Dir: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson

Four stars

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Profile

Name: Carzaty

Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar

Launched: 2017

Employees: 22

Based: Dubai and Muscat

Sector: Automobile retail

Funding to date: $5.5 million

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet

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What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.