Dubai: Dubai Police has warned residents against falling victim to online rental scams involving fake chalet and holiday home offers, particularly during the busy summer holiday season.
The warning was issued under the force’s ongoing “Be Aware of Fraud” campaign, which aims to educate the public about common forms of electronic fraud and cybercrime.
According to police, fraudsters are using social media platforms and websites to advertise attractive holiday properties at prices significantly lower than market rates. The offers are designed to lure victims into making advance payments for bookings and security deposits.
The warning follows a recent case in which a family lost AED 8,000 after responding to an online advertisement for a chalet in Dubai. The victim transferred a booking deposit and a refundable insurance fee before discovering that the advertiser had disappeared and switched off all communication channels.
Authorities said scammers often steal photographs and details from legitimate property listings and repost them online with heavily discounted prices. Victims usually realise the fraud only after money has been transferred, by which time the criminals have deleted their accounts or become unreachable.
Dubai Police urged residents to inspect properties whenever possible, verify the identity of landlords or real estate companies and ensure ownership documents are legitimate before making any payments. Transactions should only be completed through recognised and secure channels.
The force also advised the public not to transfer money to unknown bank accounts and to report suspicious advertisements, websites or fraud attempts through the e-Crime platform or by calling 901.
