The Anti-Fraud Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation in Dubai Police have issued an urgent warning about a new and growing online scam spreading through search engines and social media. Fraudsters are creating fake websites that impersonate official “Consumer Protection” platforms. By tricking victims into visiting these sites, scammers gain access to mobile data via malicious “remote access” applications, enabling them to carry out unauthorized financial transactions.
How the scam works
Dubai Police explained that when a victim searches for a consumer protection platform to file a complaint, they may be misled into entering their personal details – such as name, email, phone number, and complaint description – on one of these fraudulent websites. The scammer then contacts the victim directly, posing as an official employee, and repeats the details of the complaint to appear credible.Once trust is established, the fraudster instructs the victim to download remote control software and simultaneously log in to their bank account. This allows the scammer to view the victim’s phone screen in real time, steal sensitive banking information, and carry out illegal transfers or purchases.
Risks of remote access programmes
Dubai Police stressed that these malicious applications are specifically designed to mirror the content of the victim’s device, granting full control to the fraudster. This exposes confidential data and enables its unlawful use.
Call to the community
The force urged the public to only use official consumer protection channels, avoid downloading suspicious applications, and never share banking information with unauthorised parties.Dubai Police further urged immediate reporting of such attempts through the eCrime platform or by calling 901, to safeguard personal data and finances.
About Dubai police Anti-Fraud Department
The Anti-Fraud Department of Dubai Police was formally established as part of the General Department of Criminal Investigation to specifically combat financial crimes and scams. Over the past decade, it has grown into a sophisticated unit employing advanced forensic and digital technologies to track, investigate, and dismantle complex fraud networks, including cyber-enabled financial fraud, identity theft, and money laundering. This department uses biometric tools, data recovery, and international cooperation to tackle crimes, often involving high-value thefts such as gold and credit card scams. It also addresses emerging threats like AI-assisted fraud and fake online businesses, ensuring Dubai’s financial system remains secure by rapidly uncovering fraud schemes and arresting perpetrators. The department actively raises public awareness of fraud risks and encourages reporting to protect citizens and businesses alike.