Picture for illustrative purposes only.

More than half of the resident population in the UAE have fallen victim to phishing websites last year alone, according to the UAE Cyber Security Council. According to the council, 54 percent of residents unknowingly used phishing websites, while 19 percent of individuals were targeted by scammers on social media. Online scammers also victimized 37 percent of companies. The council revealed that most of the attacks were done through email phishing, followed by instant messaging hoaxes. It urged residents to exercise caution when dealing with unsolicited messages on social media. Authorities in the UAE have repeatedly issued public warnings against online scams, as well as fake websites, after victims reported losing thousands of dirhams. According to authorities, scammers often use promotions on social media to lure potential victims to a counterfeit website that resembles the legitimate one. The scam could either involve fake jobs offers, fake government notices or fake public service offers, such as discounted nol cards. Authorities also warned of the potential risks of purchasing products from shady websites promoted on social media platforms. They usually offer products at unrealistically low prices to capturing the attention of unsuspecting shoppers.
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