Dubai: As part of the ongoing "Be Aware of Fraud" campaign, Dubai Police has warned the public against falling victim to electronic fraud linked to fake travel and tourism offers, which increase significantly during holiday and summer vacation seasons. Fraudsters exploit the desire of individuals and families to secure low-priced offers and attractive bookings to international tourist destinations.

Dubai Police, represented by the Anti-Fraud Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, affirmed that scammers resort to creating fake websites and fictitious social media accounts, through which they offer travel packages, hotel stays, and flight tickets at prices far below actual market rates. Their aim is to lure victims into transferring money quickly before the fraud is discovered.

The Force explained that some fraudulent entities use professional logos and images, and impersonate well-known tourism companies or licensed travel agencies to lend credibility to their advertisements. “Scammers contact victims via messaging apps or phone calls to persuade them to complete the booking quickly, claiming that seats are limited or that the offer will expire within hours,” they added.

Furthermore, Dubai Police noted that many victims later discover that the bookings are not genuine, or that the travel tickets and hotel reservations are unconfirmed, after having transferred money to personal accounts or unknown payment links. This results in financial losses and difficulties related to travel and family holiday plans.

The Force urged the public to exercise caution and not to be drawn in by misleading advertisements or offers that appear illogical compared to prevailing market prices. They stressed the importance of dealing only with accredited and licensed tourism companies and agencies within the country or through trusted official platforms.

Dubai Police also emphasized the importance of verifying the authenticity of electronic links before entering any personal or banking data, and to be aware that some fake websites closely resemble genuine ones, with slight differences in the domain name or spelling, which requires careful scrutiny before completing any electronic payment.

In addition, the Force stressed the necessity of avoiding transferring money to personal or unknown accounts, not sharing bank card details, passwords, or security codes with any untrusted party, and reporting fraud incidents or suspicious websites through official channels, namely the "e-Crime" platform or by calling 901 for non-emergency cases.