In a significant move against cybercrime, a Dubai court has sentenced three men to jail and imposed heavy fines for handling funds linked to online fraud.
The Dubai Misdemeanours Court awarded 2 months’ imprisonment to each accused and imposed a combined fine of Dh518,500. The court also directed that all 3 individuals be deported after completing their sentences.
According to court records, the fines were based on the amounts each person received from the illegal transactions. The first accused was fined Dh346,000, the second Dh72,500, and the third Dh100,000.
The case dates back to January 2026, when a resident was tricked into clicking on a fake link believed to be linked to a consumer protection service. He was then redirected to a WhatsApp chat with a person posing as an official, who asked for bank card details and a verification code under the pretext of processing a complaint.
The victim initially made a small payment but soon realised that around Dh660,000 had been withdrawn from his accounts within a short time. He later reported the fraud to authorities.
Investigations revealed that part of the stolen funds was transferred to bank accounts linked to the accused, while the rest was routed through multiple accounts to hide the trail.
Authorities found that the accused were recruited through fake job advertisements on social media. They were offered commissions to allow their bank accounts to be used for transferring funds. The men admitted to receiving money in instalments, forwarding it further, and keeping a share.
The court stated that evidence, including victim testimony, bank records and confessions, confirmed their involvement. It noted that large unexplained transfers and rapid movement of funds indicated clear criminal intent.
Officials have warned the public to avoid clicking on unknown links and never share banking details on messaging platforms. They stressed that genuine authorities do not request sensitive financial information in such ways.
This case highlights the growing use of fake links and social media recruitment to carry out financial fraud.
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