Dubai Police are reported to have recently apprehended a suspect who was suspected of publishing fake adverts in places of rent on websites and social media. The con artist enticed them in the form of good property at very affordable rates and requested them to deposit the money as a down-payment and advance to lock the place into tenancy. The scammer went and vanished as payment was made, leaving the victims broke and homeless.
This was in line with the continuous campaign against fraud dubbed, Be Aware of Fraud launched by the Anti-Fraud Centre of Dubai Police under the General Department of Criminal Investigation. The name of the scammer has not been published, but the case is a lesson to the locals and any other new resident on the housing market of Dubai that has high demand.
How the Scam worked
The con artist was hunting blighted first-time home-buyers and renters particularly those interested in low-cost housing in a highly competive housing business. And this is how the trick came off:
- It made up classifieds on the websites, classifieds on social media.
- The advertisements had quality pictures and outrageous prices ranging to luxurious units.
- Renters interested were encouraged to move quickly and requested to pay in advance booking deposits.
- The fraudster received funds through money exchanges or crypto portals and it was more difficult to track.
- As soon as the money was obtained, the scammer disappeared leaving no further communication with the victims.
Growing Concern in the UAE
Such scams on rental have not been heard in the UAE on the first occasion. In 2022, the residents of the UAE lost tens of thousands of dirhams because of such schemes. Such bogus adverts tend to:
- Use Pseudo-listing stolen images.
- Disappear after the victims pay up.
- Take advantage of the unverification in the other online markets.
Dubai Police’s Warning and Action
The Dubai Police emphasized the role of awareness and prompt reporting of the population. The Anti-Fraud Centre advises residents to rent out properties only through the official agency and checks all the listings and/or documents to make payments.
- The citizens and residents are requested to:
- Not to transfer the money without going to view the property.
- The landlord should verify his or her Emirates ID and title deed.
- Take reputable authorized real estate agents or firms.
- Report any suspicious activity directly by way of::
- Dubai Police App
- Emergency number of Dubai Police: 901
Tips to Avoid Rental Scams in Dubai
- See the landlord or the agent face to face.
- See the property and then pay the amount.
- Prove the title through Dubai land department.
- Sign the contracts at Ejari platforms.
- It is critical that you never make a cash deal or pay through some unaddressable channels, such as cryptocurrency or third party exchanges.
What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed
In case you suspect a scam in the sphere of rent in the UAE:
- Tell Dubai Police by calling 901 or Dubai Police Smart App.
- Submit all materials: screenshots of the listing, messages and bank transactions.
- Submit the fraud on cybercrime.gov.ae, or through the eCrime platform.
Final Word
The real-estate market of Dubai forms one of the competitive and dynamic ones in the world. The opportunities of fraud, however, increase in parallel with the city growth and the development of the digital platforms. You are well defended by due diligence.
You can avoid being the next casualty by being updated and utilizing the authentic and tested sources about real estate business.
