Dubai: Before renting or shopping for a property in Dubai, first ensure that it’s miles proper to avoid scammers, said officers within the emirate on Sunday.
Authorities in Dubai warned residents over faux commercials on social media systems like Facebook that claim to provide funding or renting possibilities in the UAE.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, informed Gulf News that various people were defrauded by scammers posing as assets retailers or agents dealing in residential units.
“People must be careful and double-check the online advertisements approximately residences earlier than renting or shopping for it. There are official channels to test approximately the assets to keep away from scammers. People have to record any facts they will have about such scammers,” said Major General Al Mansouri at some stage in a Dubai Police discussion board on Sunday approximately online houses security.
Caught in the act
Meanwhile, Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, director of the Criminal Investigation Department of Dubai Police, said they recorded 104 fraud instances and arrested 136 suspects.
“We have e-patrols all the time to song scammers and one-of-a-kind online instances. Last 12 months, we had 12,630 e-patrols consisting of 1,155 patrols to test the fraud money owed,” said Brigadier Al Jallaf.
Al Jallaf introduced that electronic fraud and credit card forgery cases increased last 12 months because more humans are the use of smartphones and the era in Dubai. “We recorded 649 fraud cases ultimate yr and arrested ninety suspects in the UAE. There turned into 170 cases of forging credit score playing cards where 28 suspects arrested,” stated Al Jallaf.
False advertising and marketing
Al Mansouri mentioned that such kinds of commercials are run by scammers who use faux websites and fake social media debts to con citizens. The discussion board attended through Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-In-Chief of Dubai Police, and Sultan Bin Mejren, Director General of Dubai Land Department, turned into also attended with the aid of buyers who mentioned troubles within the belongings quarter, together with monetary crimes and public consciousness.
Using faux IDs, tenancy contracts, and fake names to trick their victims, the fraudsters confirmed houses and residences to several potential tenants without the expertise of the owners of the belongings, acquiring hire and commission charges before vanishing.
Several scammers were arrested by using the police after being caught posting commercials imparting flats for cheap rents.
499 cases last year, amounting to over Dh1 billion
Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, director of the Criminal Investigation Department of Dubai Police, stated that the Anti-Economic Crime Department in Dubai Police recorded 499 cases remaining 12 months which amounted to over Dh1 billion.
“Dubai is a magnet for traders and businessmen due to the safe surroundings and opportunities,” stated Al Jallaf. “Many well-known brands evolved in Dubai because they realize their trademark is included. We arrested 471 suspects specialized in forgery and seized faux objects worth Dh1 billion,” he introduced.
Raising focus
In cooperation with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Dubai Police released 3 campaigns remaining yr to keep away from e-fraud and inspire human beings to record incidents to police.
How to keep away from falling for condominium scams:
Avoid dealing with unlicensed agents or someone who claims to represent the proprietor or real estate organization.
Avoid handling unlicensed agents or someone who claims to be a consultant of the owner or real estate corporation.
Do not make a boost fee to e-book the assets.
Go to the website of the Department of Land and Property in Dubai (www.Dubailand.Gov.Ae) to verify the call of the developer or company and its related projects.
Confirm the real estate’s change license.
Landlords and actual property agencies ought to comfy empty residences and lock them.
Avoid coping with unlicensed brokers or a person who claims to represent the owner or real property business enterprise.
Do now not make a strengthen fee to e-book the property
Go to the website of the Department of Land and Property in Dubai (www.Dubailand.Gov.Ae) to verify the name of the developer or employer and its related tasks
Confirm the real estate’s exchange license
Landlords and actual property companies have to comfy empty apartments and lock them.