Dubai Police bust online car sale scam

A fraud gang posing as car buyers has been busted by Dubai Police after scamming sellers with fake cheques on a popular online platform.

The group used forged documents to transfer ownership and quickly export vehicles abroad.

According to authorities, the suspects carried out a coordinated scheme where one member would contact a seller to negotiate a deal, while another impersonated a representative of a reputable company to finalise the ownership transfer.

Once the transaction was completed and a forged cheque handed over, the vehicle was immediately exported out of the country using documents  linked to the new, fraudulently obtained ownership.

The Criminal Investigation Department’s Anti-Fraud Centre launched an investigation after receiving several similar reports.

It was revealed that the gang operated both within the UAE and abroad, targeting high-value vehicles listed online.

Victims were lured in by the criminals’ use of professional language, urgency and impersonation of legitimate businesses.

The transactions were usually scheduled late at night at vehicle registration branches, adding to the sense of urgency and authenticity.

The scam was only discovered when sellers attempted to cash the cheques, only to find they were fake — by which time the vehicles had already left the country.

Dubai Police are urging the public to take necessary precautions when selling vehicles. This includes verifying the authenticity of cheques directly with banks and insisting on receiving full payment, preferably in cash, before transferring ownership.

Residents are also encouraged to report any suspicious activity or fraud incidents via the Dubai Police eCrime platform or through the Dubai Police app.