Banks in the UAE have urged residents to stay vigilant against various types of fraud targeting customers. These scams range from bogus job offers to passport suspension threats and impersonation of government officials, aiming to obtain personal and financial information. Local banks continuously remind their customers via regular emails and messages about these fraudulent activities. Below is a list of eight types of fraud that top UAE banks have warned customers about.
When recharging mobile or toll accounts online, residents should be cautious of illegal websites that mimic genuine ones. It is advised to verify the authenticity of the link or domain name and check for security locks and certifications. Customers should double-check the recharge amount, currency, and merchant's name before confirming any transaction.
Banks advise customers to avoid transferring funds to scammers by ensuring that the IBAN matches the account name they intend to transfer to. Residents should also be wary of unrealistic job offers, such as messages promising $500 (Dh1,835) a day. Beware of scammers posing as recruitment managers of global companies offering lucrative side-hustle opportunities via unknown WhatsApp numbers, SMS, or emails.
Loyalty programme fraud involves scammers sending messages offering reward points that will expire 'today', prompting residents to log in to certain websites to claim them. Banks warn customers to be cautious of such SMS or messages claiming accumulated points are expiring soon, as fraudsters can steal money or personal information when users log in to redeem these points.
Fake calls or messages about bank details or credit cards are another tactic where imposters pose as companies or suppliers to extract personal information and bank details. Customers should verify such requests with authorized personnel of the relevant company before taking any action. Recently, a new scam has targeted UAE residents by tricking them into believing their passports have been suspended and requesting them to share their residential addresses to avoid fines. Customers are advised to block and report such messages.
Banks advise customers to be cautious of social engineering fraud, where people reply to unknown individuals on social media and share personal data like one-time passwords (OTP), exposing themselves to financial losses and other personal data breaches. Scammers also call customers claiming to be bank officials and seek details related to their accounts. Banks will never call and ask customers about their account and fund details. Therefore, customers should immediately hang up the call and alert the bank or authorities, as frauds often hide behind fake calls and big wins.
