Dubai Police have arrested six suspects accused of using a fake shopping website to steal bank card details, make unauthorised purchases and move money into digital wallets.
The investigation began after customers reported payments they had not made or approved. Police said the alleged scheme also involved selling compromised card information to other fraudsters, potentially exposing victims to further unauthorised transactions.
The case, reported on October 23, prompted a warning for online shoppers to verify websites before entering payment details and report unfamiliar deductions promptly.
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How the Fake Shopping Website Scam Operated
Investigators said the suspects created a fraudulent shopping website to collect customers’ bank card information. The stolen details were allegedly used to make purchases and transfer funds into digital wallets and bank accounts established to receive the proceeds.
Some of the compromised information was also sold to other individuals, police said. This allowed people beyond the original group to carry out additional fraudulent payments and transfers.
Police said digital wallets supplied by a telecommunications company were used to receive money connected to the scheme. The published reports did not identify the company or the fraudulent website.
One woman who contacted police said she discovered substantial deductions after waking up to transaction notifications. She told investigators she had been asleep when the payments were made and that the losses affected savings accumulated over several years.
The reports did not specify the total financial loss or the number of customers affected.
Investigation Leads to Six Arrests
The complaints were referred to Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, which formed a specialist team to identify the people behind the transactions and trace the movement of money.
Following surveillance and investigative work, officers located the six suspects at a residence and arrested them during a coordinated operation.
Police reported recovering bank cards belonging to victims that the suspects allegedly intended to sell. Officers also seized cheque books believed to be connected to the activities under investigation.
The individuals remain suspects in the account released by police. Their arrests should not be interpreted as convictions.
Dubai Police Issue Online Shopping Safety Warning
Following the arrests, Dubai Police urged residents to check the authenticity of shopping websites before submitting personal information or bank card details.
The force also warned against sharing sensitive banking information with untrusted people or organisations. Compromised card details can be used to make payments without the account holder’s permission.
For residents and international visitors shopping online, the important step is establishing that they are dealing with the intended retailer before providing payment information.
Police also advised account holders to monitor their transactions. In this case, complaints about unexplained deductions helped bring the alleged scheme to investigators’ attention.
How to Report Suspicious Transactions in Dubai
Dubai Police said suspicious activity can be reported through its contact centre on 901, the Police Eye service, or the eCrime feature available through the Dubai Police smart app and official website.
Customers who discover a payment they do not recognise should also contact their bank promptly through an official channel to flag the transaction and ask what protective action is required.
Transaction notifications, payment records and related website or message details may help explain the incident when making a report. Customers should avoid sharing additional banking information with anyone who contacts them unexpectedly claiming to resolve the problem.
The police warning centres on checking websites before paying and reporting suspicious account activity promptly—particularly when stolen card information may be passed between multiple offenders.
Sources: Gulf News, Emirates 24|7.
