Dubai Police warn of scamsters using fake websites to mirror devices

Dubai Police has warned the public about fraudsters using fake websites of official consumer protection bodies to mirror devices and steal personal data to make unauthorised bank transfers.

In a statement released on Friday, the Anti-Fraud Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation said these websites crop up across various search engines and social media platforms, tricking unsuspecting residents into believing they are sending their personal details to the right department. 

The fraudsters then use the information from the weblinks to contact the victims by posing as officials from the consumer protection departments.

Once they win over their trust, by repeating the details filed in their system, they instruct the victims to download a remote control software and simultaneously log in to their banking apps.

The software then allows the scamsters to access the victim's mobile devices in real time, and enables them to steal banking data and carry out illegal transfers or purchases.

The Dubai Police urged the public to only use official consumer protection channels, avoid downloading suspicious applications and never share banking information with unauthorised parties. It also urged residents to immediately report such attempts through the eCrime platform or by calling 901, to safeguard personal data and finances.