Dubai Police recover Dh1 million in government impersonation scam

Dubai Police have recovered over Dh1 million in a scam involving an Arab woman who was duped into transferring her money to a fraudulent account controlled by a person posing as a government official. The scam unfolded while the woman was on vacation abroad. The fraudster contacted her, claiming her bank account was under scrutiny and that the government agency he claimed to represent needed to verify it. He cautioned her not to inform anyone about the situation, claiming that doing so could jeopardize the case.

Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Yamahi, Director of the Anti-Cybercrime Centre at Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, revealed that the suspect exploited the woman's trust and fear to coerce her into following his instructions. Upon her return to the UAE, the fraudster instructed the woman to transfer her funds to an account of his choosing, promising the money would be returned after verification.

When she visited the bank, he falsely claimed it was a bank holiday and offered to send a staff member to meet her. However, no one arrived, and the woman realized she had been deceived. She subsequently reported the incident to Dubai Police, who promptly launched a specialized investigation. Within a short time, officers successfully recovered the full sum and returned it to the woman.

The case underscores the ongoing use of fraudulent impersonation of government officials to exploit victims' fears and persuade them to transfer money under the guise of security checks or account verification. Dubai Police urge the public to promptly report suspicious transactions through various channels, including the 901 call centre, Police Eye service, and the eCrime platform available through the Dubai Police app and website.

They stress that public awareness and early reporting are crucial for swift responses, crime detection, and community protection from financial and electronic fraud.