Dubai Police detain six in fake online shopping scam that drained victims’ accounts

Dubai Police have apprehended a six-member criminal group that siphoned substantial amounts of money from victims’ bank accounts by operating a fraudulent online shopping portal designed to capture credit card details.

The syndicate, referred to as the ‘Unexpected Deduction’ gang, was detained after multiple residents filed complaints about unauthorised withdrawals from their accounts.

How the scheme worked

The gang set up a fake e-commerce website. When users entered their bank card details on the site, the criminals used that data to carry out purchases without authorisation and to shift money into digital wallets, police said.

According to investigators, the gang opened digital wallets and bank accounts specifically to receive the stolen funds. Some of the stolen card information was also sold to other fraudsters, who then used it to make additional unauthorised deductions.

A victim’s story

One of the victims, a private company employee identified only by her initials S.N., recounted waking up to a stream of text messages notifying her that large sums had been taken from her account, draining savings she had accumulated from her salary over years.

“I wasn’t even using my phone or making any purchases. I was fast asleep while someone unknown was draining money from my account,” she recalled.

She immediately contacted Dubai Police.

Investigation and arrests

Her complaint was among several received by Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, which launched a probe.

A specialised team tracked the suspects through surveillance and investigative work, identified all six gang members and located their residence. A coordinated raid led to their arrest.

During the operation, officers recovered bank cards taken from victims – which the gang intended to resell to other fraudsters – along with cheque books used in their illegal activities.

Dubai Police urged the public to exercise caution when shopping online and to verify that websites are genuine before entering personal or banking details.

The force warned against sharing credit card numbers or sensitive banking information with untrusted individuals or organisations, noting that such details could be used to steal money or compromise accounts.

Anyone who notices unfamiliar transactions or suspicious activity should report it immediately through the Dubai Police contact centre on 901, the Police Eye service, or the eCrime feature on the Dubai Police smart app and official website, police said.

Authorities stressed that public awareness of new fraud techniques and prompt reporting are vital to helping them catch criminals and protect the community from financial fraud and cybercrime.