Dubai Police Impersonation Scam: Cybercrooks Strike During UAE Holidays
Cybercriminals are impersonating Dubai Police to defraud UAE consumers through smishing, vishing, and phishing. Victims receive fake fines via calls and messages, leading to financial losses, especially around UAE National Day. Dubai Police warn against sharing financial details over the phone. The Smishing Triad continues to exploit trust, costing millions in losses.
Hot Take:
When it comes to scams, impersonating law enforcement is the criminal equivalent of wearing a ‘Kick Me’ sign at a karate tournament. These cybercriminals are banking on the fact that people will be too busy enjoying their National Day shawarma to notice the fishy smell of smishing fraud wafting from their phones. Who knew scammers could be so festive?
Key Points:
- Cybercriminals are impersonating Dubai Police to scam UAE consumers, focusing on fake fines and penalties.
- The scam involves a mix of social engineering tricks: phishing, smishing, and vishing to extract personal and financial information.
- A significant rise in scams was observed around UAE’s National Day, taking advantage of relaxed citizens during holidays.
- Fraud types like smishing are linked to broader money laundering activities, contributing to a loss of AED 1.2 billion over two years.
- Scammers used over 144 domain names, exploiting cheap registration and lack of validation in new gTLDs to avoid detection.
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