Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A UAE resident has issued a warning to online sellers after a man allegedly posing as a UAE Air Force officer stole his new iPhone 17 Pro Max during a meeting. The 29-year-old resident shared his experience on social media, saying he had listed the boxed smartphone for sale through a Dubai-based classifieds website because he urgently needed cash. According to the resident, a buyer contacted him through a verified account on the classifieds platform and quickly agreed to purchase the device for Dh5,000 without attempting to negotiate the price. "I was in need of cash so I posted an ad to sell my new boxed iPhone 17 Pro Max. One guy with a verified account texted me on and said he wanted to buy it. I told him the price is Dh5,000. He didn't even bargain," he wrote. The seller said he later shared his location with the prospective buyer through WhatsApp. The man reportedly arrived in a white Toyota Camry and was wearing what appeared to be an Air Force uniform. "I thought he is an official from Air Force," the resident said. However, the meeting quickly turned into a nightmare. The resident said the man asked to inspect the phone before making the purchase. While holding the device, he allegedly ran back to his vehicle and sped away. "Moments later, this guy while checking my phone ran away in his car. I couldn't do anything at that moment," he said. Fortunately, the incident was reportedly captured by a nearby CCTV camera. The victim said he immediately reported the matter to authorities and filed a police complaint. "Currently the CID is investigating the case. I hope they will catch him," he said. The resident described the suspect as an Arabic speaker with dark skin. The victim said he had purchased the iPhone for Dh5,099 less than a month earlier and originally planned to send it to his hometown. "I am sad but still have hope in the UAE police and CID. This is the first time I tried to sell something on and I haven't even lost a single phone in my life," he wrote. "I bought it almost a month ago and was planning to send it to my hometown. But circumstances changed in the last couple of weeks and I decided to sell it for cash."

Reader shares Dubai Police success story

While many social media users expressed sympathy for the victim, one reader shared a similar experience that ended with a successful recovery. The reader said he had unknowingly purchased a counterfeit Samsung S25 Ultra through the same platform. "A person who sold me a copy of S25 Ultra on Dubizzle was arrested by Dubai Police in Global Village," the reader wrote. "It took a few months but I got a call from the Dubai Police this week saying that the culprit wanted to return my money and take the device back." According to the reader, authorities facilitated the process and helped recover the money. "I went down there and it took a couple of hours to get my money back and close the case. Trust in Dubai Police to catch the culprit." Authorities regularly remind residents to exercise caution when buying or selling items through online marketplaces. Experts advise meeting buyers in public places, avoiding isolated locations, verifying identities where possible, and remaining alert during transactions involving high-value items. ICA/Expat Media
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