Dubai Police have issued a warning about a new online scam tactic involving fake consumer protection websites appearing on search engines and social media.
The Anti-Fraud Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation highlighted that scammers mimic official “Consumer Protection” sites to gain access to victims’ mobile data through harmful “remote access” apps, which facilitates unauthorized financial transactions.
The police urge the public to rely on official consumer protection channels and refrain from downloading suspicious apps.
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They also advised immediate reporting of such scams via the eCrime platform or by calling 901, to protect personal information and finances.
Details of the New Scam
Explaining the workings of this scam, Dubai Police noted that when individuals look for a consumer protection site to lodge a complaint, they may encounter these deceptive websites.
Believing they are on a legitimate platform, victims input personal information like name, email, phone number, and complaint details into these fake sites.
Scammers then directly contact the victim, impersonating an official employee, reiterating the complaint details to appear credible and gain trust.
Once trust is built, scammers ask the victim to install remote control software, enabling them to see the victim’s phone screen in real-time, steal sensitive banking info, and conduct illegal transactions or purchases.
These malicious apps are crafted to replicate the victim’s device content, giving full control to the scammers and exposing confidential data for misuse.
Innovative Scamming Techniques
Last month, a Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade official noted that scammers are increasingly creative in exploiting victims.
“Consumers must be aware of their rights, carefully read details, especially when buying online, and know who they are purchasing from and interacting with,” said Ahmad Ahli, Acting Director of the Consumer Protection Department, Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade.
“We advise verifying the reputation of a business, using accredited payment links, and ensuring consumers are never asked for OTPs. Customer protection is always a priority.”
Numerous regulations have been implemented in Dubai to protect consumer rights, fostering a fair and competitive marketplace, according to Ahmad.
