Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

It’s a scam that’s been around for years—but it’s still catching people off guard. Fraudsters targeting sellers on Dubizzle and Facebook Marketplace are using the same old trick: posing as buyers, offering to send a courier, and sharing fake payment links that mimic reputable platforms like Careem. Despite being a known ploy, UAE residents continue to report near-misses—a sign that this scam is far from obsolete. One UAE resident recently took to social media to share his close call. “I posted a blender for sale on Dubizzle—brand new, never opened,” he said. “A buyer named Roxie messaged me, offered to use Careem delivery, and sent me a website link to ‘confirm delivery.’ It looked convincing at first, but something felt off when it didn’t open in the Careem app.” Screenshots from the chat show the scammer urging the seller to click on “get funds” and enter banking details to receive the payment. That link, of course, was fake. Similar incidents are being reported across the UAE. Joanne, a Dubai resident, told Expat Media she nearly fell for the same trap. On December 18, she listed a luxury bag and watch on Facebook and received two WhatsApp messages from supposed buyers. “They asked for more photos—normal at first,” she said. “But then both sent suspicious Careem links.” The fraudulent link (www.careem.loads.run) closely resembled the legitimate Careem site, but asked for her credit card number, CVV, and other sensitive data. “That’s when I knew it was a scam. I called them out, and they stopped replying.” A Sharjah-based expat shared a similar experience involving a scammer using a UK number (+44) who claimed to be in Abu Dhabi and unable to meet in person. “They insisted on courier delivery through Dubizzle’s platform and sent a ‘confirmation’ link that asked for my full card details—even my card balance,” he said. “I gave fake inputs just to test them—and sure enough, they blocked me afterward.” Despite years of awareness campaigns, the scam is still fooling some and almost fooling many. Its persistence lies in how familiar and legitimate the fake websites appear, especially to users in a hurry to close a deal. Authorities have repeatedly warned residents to avoid sharing banking details online and to verify all payment and delivery links. “Fraudulent websites are becoming more sophisticated,” said a Dubai Police spokesperson. “Residents should always verify the authenticity of websites and conduct transactions face-to-face wherever possible.” Anyone who encounters such scams is urged to report them through the eCrime portal or the nearest police station. ICA/Expat Media
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