Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A man who impersonated a real estate agent on WhatsApp and defrauded a woman of more than Dh84,900 has been ordered by the court to repay the stolen amount and provide compensation for damages. The ruling was issued by the Abu Dhabi Family, Civil, and Administrative Cases Court, following a lawsuit filed by the victim who was misled into believing she was renting a legitimate property. According to court records, the man sent photos and details of a property that did not exist and convinced the woman to transfer Dh80,900 to his personal bank account as payment for the rental. After the transaction, the fraudster cut off communication. The victim later discovered the scam and filed a criminal case, which led to a conviction. The civil court has now ruled that the defendant must return the full amount and pay an additional Dh4,000 in compensation for material and emotional damages. “The appellee’s actions were proven to be fraudulent, and he wrongfully obtained Dh80,900 from the plaintiff,” the court judgment stated. Authorities continue to warn residents to be vigilant when making property transactions and to verify the identities of agents through licensed real estate portals. ICA/Expat Media
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