Dubai Police recover over AED 1 million from fake government call scam
What happened
A Dubai resident nearly lost more than AED 1 million after one phone call, Al Bayan reports. The caller said he represented a government body. He told the victim that her bank account was "suspicious", that the matter was urgent, and that she must not tell anyone. He then offered what looked like a quick solution: move the money to another account until the "verification" was finished.
The case was reported, and Dubai Police recovered more than AED 1 million and returned it to her.
The director of media and marketing at the Dubai Electronic Security Center told Al Bayan that the scammer did not need any complex hacking. He used fear, pressure and urgency instead. She said one of the most common methods seen now is putting pressure on the victim so they have no time to think.
The centre is running an awareness campaign called "Don't Get Fooled" during Cyber Security Awareness Month. It uses a virtual Emirati grandmother character, "Yadwa Salama", who is careful and does not rush to believe what she receives. The campaign teaches people to spot warning signs that repeat even when the scam changes.
What this means for you
This case shows that a scam does not have to be technical. A phone call and a convincing story can be enough. The caller may use the name of a real authority and sound official.
The Dubai Electronic Security Center points to warning signs that appear again and again:
- You are told something is urgent and you must act now.
- You are told to keep it secret, even from family.
- You are asked to do something unusual, like move your money to another account.
- You are discouraged from checking the story yourself.
If a caller asks you to move money to another account to "protect" it, treat this as a strong sign of fraud. The centre also warns that scam tools are becoming more advanced. They now include fake messages and identities, and images, voices and documents changed with artificial intelligence. A voice or a video that seems real may be fake.
In this case, the money came back after the matter was reported to Dubai Police. Reporting to the police can make a difference, so do not stay silent because you feel embarrassed.
The campaign's simple message is: do not rush, and always ask before you decide whether what you see is real or fake.
What to do:
- If a caller says they are from a government body, the police or a bank and asks for money or codes, end the call and contact the organisation using the number on its official website.
- Do not move your money to a "safe" account because a caller tells you to.
- Never share your bank details, PINs or copies of your Emirates ID with unknown callers.
- If you have already transferred money, keep every message, receipt and call record, and report it to Dubai Police.
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