Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Dubai Police has issued a warning against online romance scams after a European woman was defrauded of Dh12 million by a cybercriminal posing as a Dubai-based man. The victim, a senior European woman, was manipulated over social media by a fraudster who convinced her he was a wealthy, handsome young man living in Dubai. Brigadier General Saeed Al Hajri, Assistant Director General of the Criminal Investigations General Directorate at Dubai Police, stated that the scammer built trust over time, eventually persuading the woman to sell all her assets in her home country and transfer the money to him. Upon arriving in Dubai, she discovered she had been deceived. The fraudster was not in the UAE but was operating from an African country, running a well-organized scam network. Brigadier Al Hajri emphasized that romance scams are becoming more sophisticated, with criminals using advanced AI technology and fake identities to manipulate victims. “These platforms have become a primary tool for fraudsters, who meticulously study victims’ social media activity to exploit emotional vulnerabilities,” Al Hajri warned. Dubai Police have urged residents to avoid sharing personal or financial information online and to report suspicious activity immediately. ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page