UAE: Fake rental, job ads among top online scams, say Ajman Police

Khaleej Times

6 days ago

A surge in fake advertisements and suspicious links to lure unsuspecting recipients with seemingly attractive offers has prompted a response from authorities. These fraudulent schemes range from bogus farm and resort rental ads, sales promotions boasting unrealistic prices, and text messages impersonating banks or government agencies to suspicious sales links that can lead directly to hacking or the theft of funds.
To bolster community security and combat digital crimes, the Ajman Police, represented by the Criminal Investigations Department and the Media and Public Relations Department, has launched a comprehensive awareness campaign titled 'Your Security is in Your Awareness.' The initiative aims to significantly elevate public awareness regarding various methods of electronic fraud, with a particular focus on deceptive advertisements and online scams.
Colonel Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Criminal Investigations Department at Ajman Police, underscored the campaign's critical objective. 'This campaign is designed to educate the public against electronic fraud aimed at stealing money and against deceptive advertisements and suspicious links that promise enticing offers,' he stated.
He elaborated on the common tactics, including 'fake farm and resort rental advertisements, sales ads claiming attractive prices, text messages impersonating banks or government entities, and suspicious sales links that could lead to hacking or financial theft."
Al Nuaimi further emphasised the importance of vigilance, noting that fraudsters continually innovate their methods. He warned against 'advertisements for buying, selling, and renting at attractive and unrealistic prices, as well as ads for recruiting domestic workers and job offers with tempting salaries,' among other ploys used to mislead and ensnare targets.
The Ajman Police urged the public to exercise extreme caution and verify the authenticity of advertisements on social media platforms and the legitimacy of links before taking any action that could result in financial loss.
In January, Dubai police arrested a gang involved in luring and scamming victims through fake links and pretending to be well-known organisations, including restaurants and delivery companies, and offering promotional deals.
The cybercriminals operated by sending SMS messages, emails and online links that appeared to come from trusted companies.
The community is encouraged to cooperate with the police by reporting any attempted fraud or suspicious advertisements through the 'Share with Security' service available on the Ajman Police smart application, or by contacting the dedicated number 067037309.