^{Fraud Awareness} Be aware of fraud involving Advance Fee scams

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. An Advance Fee scam is a common fraud hoax where the scammer typically convinces victims into paying upfront fees, with the guarantee of receiving much larger returns or benefits in the future. This fraud can take many forms which target individuals and businesses. An unsolicited offer, a request for a upfront payment and pressure to act immediately are all warning signs that a ‘too good to be true offer’ is not what it seems.

The hook

The scammer assures the victim that they are eligible for a large sum of money, or substantial benefit, however the victim must first pay a fee to cover the administrative costs, taxes, legal documents, or processing fees, etc. These can typically include:

• Lottery or prize scams
• Inheritance scams
• Business opportunity scams
• Romance scams
• Job or employment scams
• Loan or credit scams

The payment

Once the victim pays the initial fee, the scammer often escalates the situation by inventing new “necessary” payments, such as additional fees or unexpected complications.

Disconnection with the fraudster

After exploiting as much money as possible, the scammer disappears, leaving the victim with absolutely nothing.

How to protect yourself

1. Be careful: Question all unsolicited offers, especially those requiring upfront payments.
2. Verify any claims made by fraudsters: Conduct research on any person, company, profit or investment opportunity.
3. Avoid sharing personal information: Never provide sensitive details, for example personal ID numbers or confidential bank account information such as card numbers, CVV details, PIN numbers or OTPs details.
4. Reporting: If you suspect scams, report immediately to authorities.

If you believe you have been targeted by fraud, please report it immediately through our official Contact Centre on 600 50 2030.

Stay Safe online with authentic websites

If you are in doubt of the authenticity of a website, you can visit the UAE Government website StaySafe Copy and paste any website link you are unsure of into StaySafe and it will check multiple sources for you to see if the site is a scam, phishing attempt or legitimate website.

Please note these sources are not complete or error-free, as new types of phishing attempts and well-hidden scams may not be identifiable. StaySafe is one of the many tools and checks available, and additional measures should always be taken to verify the authenticity of a website.