How to report a scam in the UAE

Why it's hard to tell

In the UAE, scam messages come in by SMS, call and messaging apps, often mixing Arabic and English. Many people are unsure whether to go to the bank, the police or another body, and that uncertainty can delay a report.

The UAE government portal lists the official routes in one place. The best choice depends on whether you live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere, and whether you want to report an attempt or something that has already cost you money.

Common tricks used

• A text or call that says your account, card or ID will be closed unless you act now.
• A link in a text message that asks you to enter details. The portal's own safety advice is not to click unknown links sent by text message.
• A caller who asks you to download an app. The same advice says not to download apps from unknown sources.
• A message that threatens you to keep you from telling anyone. The portal says that if you are a victim, you should not give in to threats and should report to the authorities immediately.

How to verify, step by step

1. If money or card details are involved, contact your bank first. Use the number on your card or on the bank's official app, not a number from the message. Ask them to block the card and look at the transaction. 2. Choose an official police route. The UAE government portal lists these: - The eCrimes platform of the Ministry of Interior, available in the MoI UAE app. - The eCrime website run by Dubai Police, which is the route for Dubai. - The Aman service of Abu Dhabi Police, which is the route for Abu Dhabi. - The My Safe Society app of the federal Public Prosecution. - Your nearest police station. 3. Call 999 if you need help now. This is the emergency number listed on the portal. 4. Gather what you have. Screenshots of messages, the sender's number, the date and time, transaction details and any link you were sent make a report easier to act on. 5. Do not engage further. Stop replying to the sender. Do not follow instructions to send money to "recover" funds. 6. Check your phone. The portal lists signs that a device may be compromised: unusual battery drain, a slower phone, overheating, and texts or app downloads you did not make. If you see these, update your phone and consider asking a trusted person or the manufacturer for help.

If you gave anyone a one-time code or allowed access to your device, our guide on what to do after you shared a code or gave someone access lists the order of steps. For one common UAE pattern, read about the WhatsApp message that asks you to verify your bank account and the WhatsApp request for a one-time code.

Things to watch

• Messages that claim to be from a bank, police or a government service but ask for card numbers, passwords or codes.
• Anyone who tells you to download a program so they can "help".
• Pressure to act within minutes.
• A second caller who says they are from the police or the Central Bank and asks you to move money.

The portal also suggests habits that cut risk: avoid publishing private contact details on unreliable websites, keep backup copies of personal data, update your phone's operating system regularly, and follow security alerts from your phone manufacturer.

The Dubai Police eCrime page is a service for Dubai incidents, so if you live elsewhere in the UAE, start with the MoI app or your local police. Check the current instructions on the portal before filing, since official services are updated from time to time.