Dubai pensioner loses Dh400,000 in online investment scam, police warn

A pensioner in Dubai was defrauded of more than 400,000 dirhams over a two-month period after falling for an online investment scheme, depleting savings accumulated over 30 years, police said on Thursday.

The victim initially transferred small amounts to an investment group he encountered on social media. After receiving what appeared to be profit returns, he began investing larger sums. When he attempted to withdraw his money, the fraudsters demanded additional payments. He continued sending funds for nearly two months before approaching the authorities. By then the money had been moved through multiple personal bank accounts, making recovery extremely difficult.

Social media fraud accounts for half of cases

Ali Saeed Al Yamahi, director of Dubai Police’s Anti-Fraud Center, said social media-related fraud now accounts for about 50 percent of reported fraud cases, as scammers exploit people’s desire for convenience, low prices and quick profits. Fraudsters advertise everything from insurance policies and domestic workers to vehicle sales, number plates and investment opportunities, often using attractive prices to persuade individuals to pay deposits or transfer money without verifying the provider.

Al Yamahi urged residents never to transfer money to personal bank accounts when paying for services that authorised businesses should provide. He warned that some scammers provide several account numbers under different names and ask victims to split payments among them.

Young jobseekers and investors targeted

People aged 20 to 25 are among those being targeted through fake remote and part-time job offers, Al Yamahi said. Fraudsters may ask applicants to open bank accounts or digital wallets to receive and transfer money, drawing them into transactions linked to criminal activity. Some are later encouraged to invest their own money after seeing transactions that appear to show substantial earnings.

Investment scams also target individuals with savings. In one case, a victim paid approximately one million dirhams into an investment scheme after collecting money from family members, only to discover the funds could not be recovered. Al Yamahi warned residents against offers promising monthly returns of 20 or 30 percent, stressing that unusually high returns over short periods should raise suspicion.

Fake police calls and fraudulent links

Scammers also impersonate government officials and police officers, telling victims their bank accounts are under investigation or that their money could be frozen unless they transfer it to another account for verification. In one case, a man was persuaded to transfer money over approximately a month after being threatened with an investigation into his finances. The money was eventually moved through accounts inside and outside the UAE.

In another incident, a potential victim was instructed to leave his home and book a hotel room while waiting for further instructions about transferring money. After police intervened and helped him spot inconsistencies in the caller’s uniform, they stopped the attempted scam.

Fraudsters are also using fake consumer complaint links to collect personal information. They may then contact victims, pretending to be officials handling their complaints, and ask them to download apps that can expose sensitive data.

Al Yamahi stressed that people should never assume a caller is genuine because the number appears to be from the UAE. Residents should contact the relevant authority through official channels rather than follow instructions from unknown callers.

He also said police were monitoring the potential use of artificial intelligence to manipulate voices and appearances through deepfake technology. While such reports had not yet reached high levels at the time of the interview, he expected the threat to grow.

Report fraud immediately

Anyone who suspects they have been targeted should report the incident as quickly as possible through Dubai Police’s eCrime platform, the Dubai Police app, Police Eye or the 901 non-emergency number. Al Yamahi warned that delays can make recovering money more difficult because fraudsters may transfer funds through multiple accounts within minutes.

He urged residents to verify sellers, employers and investment providers before making payments, avoid suspicious links and unverified applications, and never transfer money simply because someone claiming to represent a government authority demands it. He added that public awareness remains a key line of defence, and encouraged people to share warnings with family and friends to help prevent others from becoming victims.