Dubai Police arrest gang for defrauding people with fake offers of Umrah and Hajj visas
Dubai Police explained that the gang, that was arrested by the Anti-Fraud Centre in the General Department of Criminal Investigation, deceived people by claiming the ability to obtain Umrah and Hajj visas, exploiting them with false promises of obtaining visas quickly and easily.
Once victims transferred money to the gang's bank accounts, their numbers were blocked, and the transferred amounts were seized.
Dubai Police emphasised the importance of obtaining visas from approved and licenced entities in the country, calling for caution when dealing with any advertisements published on social media platforms promoting any service at unreasonable prices, to avoid falling victim to such crimes.
They also stressed their continued efforts to combat all forms of manipulation and fraud targeting various segments of society.
Dubai Police called on community members to report cyber fraud crimes by visiting the nearest police station or through the "Ecrime" platform, specialised in receiving such reports, via the website www.ecrime.ae.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Cricket Council
6 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Saliya Saman banned for five years under Anti-Corruption Code
Former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman has been banned from all cricket for five years after an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code. Saman was among eight people charged in September 2023 for breaching the Code. The charges relate to the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League and attempts to corrupt matches in that tournament which were disrupted by the ICC, the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO) for the purposes of the ECB's Code for the tournament. Following a full hearing and presentation of written and oral argument, the Tribunal found Saman guilty of: Article 2.1.1 – Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021. Article 2.1.3 – Offering a Reward to another Participant in exchange for that player engaging in Corrupt Conduct under the Code. Article 2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1. The ban is backdated to 13 September 2023, when Saman was provisionally suspended. The decision on merits and sanction (which has been redacted to protect the identities of the ICC's witnesses and other third parties) is available on the page here. The media release on the charges is available here. Fo more about the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, click here.
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai businessman loses Dh2.2 million in Bao Bao Panda crypto scam, probe underway
It was billed as the "panda revolution" of the crypto world. Bao Bao Panda, a meme coin with a grinning mascot, viral internet hype, and AI-driven investing, claimed it would change fortunes 'one paw-step at a time.' Instead, it left a Dubai-based Indian businessman with a $600,491 hole (Dh2.2 million) in his account and on the trail of a scam now under investigation by Dubai Police. Al Riffa Police have registered a fraud case against an Indian man for posing as a licensed virtual asset trader. The suspect allegedly convinced the victim to exchange $600,491 worth of USDT tokens for Bao Bao Panda, promising the meme coin's value would double. A police certificate submitted to the public prosecutor and shared with the businessman confirms the case details. Investigators found the accused had no license to trade digital assets in the UAE, violating anti-money laundering laws and federal virtual asset regulations. Authorities have issued a circular to locate the suspect, who reportedly fled the country in April. 'This is not how it was supposed to be,' the businessman told Khaleej Times, recalling the nearly 60 cryptocurrency transfers he made. The coin's white paper seen by Khaleej Times promised global contests, virtual panda races, and even wildlife conservation. 'What I got was a police file, a forensic audit, and a dead-end crypto trail.' He claims an Indian politician and his son introduced him to the suspect during a Dubai visit. 'They told me, 'We guarantee your money,'' he said. 'It sounded convincing then. Now, I see it was all a carefully crafted illusion.' According to him, the politician and his son claimed to invest $50,000 of their own in Bao Bao Panda, a supposed show of faith that he alleges was simply a circular transaction looping back to them. For nearly four months after the token's launch, the suspect allegedly kept up the façade: sending updates, discussing marketing plans, and vowing listings on major exchanges. Behind the scenes, the businessman alleges, he urged others to buy in, then dumped his own holdings from anonymous wallets each time prices rose. Meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by internet jokes or trends (eg: Dogecoin, Shiba Inu), typically with no real-world utility. Their value depends entirely on hype, making them prime targets for speculation and fraud. In February, Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) issued an alert warning that meme coins are unregulated and highly speculative, often lacking intrinsic value and vulnerable to manipulation through social media hype. It urged investors to be wary of anyone promising guaranteed or outsized returns and reminded the public that all virtual-asset promotions in Dubai must follow its marketing and issuance rules.
Gulf Today
12 hours ago
- Gulf Today
High-profile wanted suspect arrested, handed over to Chinese authorities
The UAE Ministry of Interior handed over a wanted person to the authorities in the People's Republic of China. The suspect was arrested by the Dubai Police, pursuant to a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL). He's considered one of the most wanted individuals by Chinese authorities on charges of running an organised criminal network that operates fraudulent gambling sites worth millions of dollars. The Chinese authorities expressed their appreciation for the UAE's cooperation and their keenness to enhance cooperation and joint action to ensure the security of societies and the international community. WAM
