Latest news with #ArabMan
Khaleej Times
19-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Man offering fake IELTS certificate gets suspended jail term
A Dubai court has sentenced an Arab man to one month in jail and fined him Dh1,500 for having money suspected to be from illegal sources. However, the Criminal and Misdemeanours Court decided to suspend the jail sentence for three years, which means he will only go to jail if he commits another crime during that time. The case dates back to October 2024, when an Arab national filed a complaint after falling victim to an online scam. He told police that he had seen a fake advertisement on Instagram offering English language certificates, such as IELTS, TOEFL, and EMSAT, in exchange for money. The victim contacted the advertiser via a WhatsApp number listed in the post and agreed to pay Dh1,500 in return for an IELTS certificate. He was given a bank account number and transferred the money. The victim said that the advertiser repeatedly delayed the process and eventually blocked him on both WhatsApp and Instagram, prompting him to report the incident to the authorities, Al Khaleej newspaper reported. A member of the investigation team testified that police tracked down the bank account holder who received the transfer. The suspect denied any connection with the victim but admitted to receiving Dh1,500 along with six other bank transfers. He claimed a friend from his home country had asked him to collect the money and forward it, insisting he had no idea the funds were linked to fraudulent activity. The defendant submitted documents showing his friend's request to receive and resend the money, as well as an official waiver from the victim relinquishing his right to press charges. Given the evidence and the victim's formal waiver, the court issued a guilty verdict but suspended the sentence for a period of three years.
Khaleej Times
15-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Man jailed, to be deported for making illegal purchases with stolen credit card
A Dubai court has sentenced an Arab man to one month in prison, fined him Dh7,596, ordered the confiscation of the device used in the crime, and ruled for his deportation after he was found guilty of using a stolen credit card to make illegal purchases. According to a report by Emarat Al Youm, the man was referred to the Dubai Misdemeanor Court by the Public Prosecution on two charges: unlawfully using a credit or debit card or its data to obtain funds, and unauthorised access to sensitive digital information, including bank account data and electronic payment methods. Despite the defendant denying the charges, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him. The defendant did not appeal the verdict. This comes just months after a similar high-profile incident in March, where a Dubai-based Asian doctor discovered her credit card had been used to make 14 unauthorised transactions totalling over Dh120,000, all while she was in the operating room performing a surgery. In that case, the doctor told Khaleej Times she only learned about the fraudulent activity after leaving the operating theatre. She was left in shock after being held accountable for the charges by her bank, despite never having authorised the payments. Cybersecurity experts warn that such cases are becoming increasingly common in the UAE, with some public sector institutions facing up to 50,000 cyber threats daily. But customers affected by banking fraud say they are often met with blame, silence, or harassment by debt collectors, rather than receiving support or protection. As online transactions grow, so do the loopholes exploited by criminals. Experts urge residents to monitor their accounts closely, enable transaction alerts, and report suspicious activity immediately.
