Intel Name: Cybercriminals impersonate dubai police to defraud consumers in the uae – smishing triad in action
Date of Scan: March 24, 2025
Impact: High
Summary: Cybercriminals in the UAE are impersonating Dubai Police to defraud consumers, using social engineering tactics such as smishing, phishing, and vishing. Victims are tricked into paying non-existent fines, including traffic tickets and license renewals, via fraudulent phone calls. This scam has been amplified during the holiday season, particularly around UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad). Dubai Police have warned against providing financial details over the phone, as official institutions do not request such information. A recent report from the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit revealed that fraud, especially vishing, phishing, and smishing, led to losses of AED 1.2 billion (USD 326 million) between 2021 and 2023, posing a significant risk to financial security in the region.
