Dubai & UAE Scams: Online, Job & Property Fraud Guide
Common scams in the UAE and how to report them via the eCrime platform and Dubai Police.
Emergency number: 999 (police), 901 (Dubai Police non-emergency) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
The UAE's status as a business and expat hub brings job offer scams, rental and property fraud, fake investment schemes, and online shopping scams. With a population that is overwhelmingly expatriate and highly banked, fraudsters lean on impersonation: calls claiming to be from your bank, the Central Bank, Dubai Police, or immigration, warning that your Emirates ID or account needs urgent 'verification' — a pretext to extract card details and OTPs. This guide covers the main threats and how to report through the UAE eCrime platform and Dubai Police.
Rental fraud is a perennial problem in Dubai's fast-moving property market. Scammers copy genuine listings onto classified platforms such as Dubizzle, pose as landlords or agents, show a flat they have short-term access to (or none at all), and collect deposits and post-dated cheques for properties they don't control — sometimes from several victims for the same unit. Verify the agent's RERA registration and the title deed, and never pay a deposit in cash or transfer before documents check out. Job fraud mirrors this: fake recruiters offer UAE positions to applicants abroad, then charge 'visa processing' or 'medical' fees. Legitimate UAE employers cover those costs.
Online, expect delivery smishing impersonating Emirates Post and courier firms, fake e-commerce storefronts around sale seasons, and investment pitches — crypto, forex, and 'guaranteed return' property schemes — pushed through social media and messaging groups, sometimes fronted by fake endorsements from prominent figures. Lottery and prize scams claiming you have won a telecom or shopping-festival draw still circulate widely. The UAE takes cybercrime seriously and reporting channels are efficient: use the eCrime platform or Dubai Police app quickly, and call your bank the moment any payment or card detail is compromised.
Common scams
- Fake job offer and recruitment scams
- Rental and property deposit scams
- Investment and crypto fraud
- Online shopping non-delivery
Tourist-specific scams
- Unofficial taxi overcharging
- Fake tour and desert-safari operators
- Counterfeit 'gold and designer' bargains in souks and via street touts
Online shopping scams
- Delivery and bank smishing (Emirates Post and courier impersonation)
- Marketplace and rental scams on classified platforms
- Phishing calls posing as bank, Central Bank, or police officials seeking OTPs
- Prize and lottery scams claiming telecom or shopping-festival winnings
Job scams
- Fake recruiters offering UAE jobs requiring upfront fees or visa payments
- Task scams via messaging apps
- Cloned company websites and forged offer letters used to collect 'medical' or 'processing' fees
Romance scams
- Dating-app grooming and crypto investment scams
- Online partners claiming to be stuck at customs with a package needing fees
- Long-distance relationships escalating into visa and travel money requests
Investment scams
- Fake trading platforms
- Property and 'guaranteed return' schemes
- Forex and crypto groups on social media with fake celebrity endorsements
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank's hotline immediately
- Report cybercrime via the UAE eCrime platform (ecrime.ae) or Dubai Police eCrime
- Contact consumer protection for purchase disputes
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your UAE bank's official hotline immediately, using the number on your card or in the bank's app rather than anything sent by the person you dealt with. Tell them you were deceived into making the payment, ask for the transfer to be stopped or recalled and the receiving account reported, and ask for a reference number you can quote later. Remember that no UAE bank, the Central Bank, or the police will ever call to ask for your card number, CVV, OTP, or online banking password — 'Emirates ID expiry' and 'account verification' calls are scams, and sharing an OTP is treated by banks as authorising the transaction, which makes recovery harder. Be cautious of job and rental offers requiring upfront visa, deposit, or processing payments by transfer, and avoid handing over signed cheques to unverified agents. If card details or a code were shared, ask about blocking and reissuing the card, then file an eCrime report so the bank has an official case to work with.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
Are UAE job offers requiring upfront fees legitimate?
Generally no. Legitimate employers and recruiters don't require you to pay upfront for visas, processing, or 'guarantees'. Verify the employer and use official recruitment channels.
How do I avoid rental scams in Dubai?
Deal only with agents you can verify as RERA-registered, insist on seeing the title deed and the landlord's ID before paying anything, and be wary of rents well below market or landlords who are 'abroad' and want a transfer to hold the flat. Copied listings with real photos are common, so cheapness plus urgency is the red flag.
Will Dubai Police or my bank ever ask for my OTP by phone?
No. Calls demanding your card number, CVV, or one-time passcode to 'update your Emirates ID' or 'stop a fraudulent transaction' are impersonation scams. Hang up and contact your bank via the app or the number on your card.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance