Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A Dubai court has fined a Cameroonian man Dh16,200 for operating a fake online pet adoption scheme that defrauded a UAE resident. The scam occurred in late 2022 when the victim, a UAE resident, came across an advertisement for kitten adoption. According to court documents, the victim contacted the scammer via WhatsApp and was persuaded to transfer Dh6,200 in two installments. Initially, the scammer requested Dh2,200 as an adoption fee. The following day, another individual posing as a delivery agent demanded Dh4,000 as a refundable insurance deposit. When the promised kitten never arrived, the victim realized she had been deceived and filed a complaint with Dubai Police. During the investigation, authorities identified the suspect, who confessed to using social media platforms to execute his fraudulent schemes. In its recent verdict, the Dubai Court of Misdemeanour ruled that if the fine is not paid, the Cameroon national will serve one day in prison for every Dh100 unpaid.

What the UAE law says about selling pets

Under UAE laws, selling pets for profit is illegal without obtaining proper licensing and permissions from authorised municipalities. Violators will face legal action and the pets will be confiscated and handed over to relevant authorities. Individuals trying to circumvent the law post pets for adoption but would later ask for "fees". The illegal practice makes it easy for scammers to prey on unsuspecting buyers. ICA/Expat Media ALSO READ: Abu Dhabi launches mandatory pet registration service
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