The gang members arrested by Dubai Police. DUBAI POLICE

Dubai Police has arrested 13 members of three criminal gangs involved in phone scams that saw suspects impersonating police officers and bank representatives to steal money from residents. In a statement on Thursday (May 8), Dubai Police said the suspects—all Asian nationals—were arrested through a joint operation with the Fraud Control Centre of the General Department of Criminal Investigation. The scam involved calling victims and pretending to be representatives of official institutions such as the police, banks, or immigration authorities. The suspects told victims they needed to update their banking information, settle traffic fines, or resolve residency-related issues, and then tricked them into disclosing sensitive banking information such as their CVV numbers and one-time passwords (OTP). “These criminals exploited people’s trust in official entities,” according to Dubai Police, warning the public not to share personal or banking details with unverified sources. Authorities emphasized that legitimate banks and government bodies never ask for such information via phone, text messages, or email. The police force urged the public to report suspicious calls immediately via the nearest police station, through the “eCrime” platform at ecrime.ae, or by using the Dubai Police smart app. This operation is part of ongoing efforts by Dubai Police to combat cyber fraud and raise community awareness. ICA/Expat Media
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