Dubai Police has warned residents to be vigilant against fraudulent online travel and tourism offers as scammers exploit the peak summer travel season to deceive holidaymakers.
The advisory, issued by the Anti-Fraud Centre under the General Department of Criminal Investigation, forms part of Dubai Police’s ongoing #BewareOfFraud campaign aimed at preventing online scams.
Authorities said fraudsters are increasingly targeting individuals and families searching for affordable vacations by advertising fake holiday packages, discounted hotel accommodations, and low-cost airline tickets.
According to Dubai Police, scammers often create fake websites and social media pages that closely resemble legitimate, licensed travel agencies to gain the trust of potential victims.
Victims are typically contacted through messaging applications or phone calls and pressured to book immediately using claims of limited seat availability or expiring promotional offers.
Police said many victims only realize they have been scammed after transferring money to personal bank accounts or unverified payment links, only to discover that no flights or hotel reservations were ever made.
To avoid falling victim to the scheme, Dubai Police advised the public to book only through licensed travel agencies and verified online platforms, and to be cautious of travel deals that appear significantly cheaper than prevailing market prices.
Authorities also reminded residents to verify website addresses carefully before entering personal or financial information, noting that fraudulent websites may closely imitate legitimate ones by changing only a single letter or character in the URL.
Dubai Police further urged the public never to transfer money to unknown or personal bank accounts and to avoid sharing bank card details, one-time passwords (OTPs), or account passwords with unverified individuals.
Residents who encounter suspicious websites or suspected travel scams are encouraged to report them through the UAE’s e-Crime platform or by calling Dubai Police’s non-emergency hotline, 901.
