Picture for illustrative purposes only. EXPAT MEDIA

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has issued an urgent warning to residents after a fake online offer claiming to give a 50 percent discount on traffic fines and RTA services spread across social media and email. The fraudulent message, disguised as an official announcement, promised “half off RTA services when you pay online today.” Screenshots shared by a Dubai resident on RTA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account showed a landing page mimicking the authority’s branding. RTA quickly debunked the offer, confirming that the page does not belong to the authority. “Kindly note that the mentioned page doesn’t belong to RTA. Please be aware of deceptive marketing campaigns that aim to exploit digital service users,” the authority said in a public advisory. Officials stressed that the offer is part of a broader pattern of scams targeting residents with too-good-to-be-true discounts. RTA urged the public to use only official channels—including the website, app, ticket offices, and kiosks—to pay traffic fines or access services. The alert comes as the UAE Cybersecurity Council and Ministry of Interior warn of a surge in online fraud. Current scam trends include: • Fake traffic fines • Counterfeit airline tickets • Fraudulent trading and investment platforms Authorities advise residents to verify URLs, confirm sender identities, avoid untrusted payment methods, and report suspicious messages immediately. Officials also noted that criminals are now using AI-generated content to appear more credible. Residents are urged to stay vigilant and never share personal or banking details through unsolicited links. ICA/Expat Media
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