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Sharjah Police warned members of the society against falling victim to fraud related to bookings of guesthouses, apartments and tourist facilities, stressing that rushing to transfer money as a booking deposit before verifying the credibility of the advertisement might lead to financial losses that would be difficult to recover.
They underscored the need to verify the credibility of the advertiser and to deal with licensed shops or offices that provide official contracts and approved receipts before transferring any sums of money in order to protect customers from the ever-evolving methods of electronic fraud.
Fake advertisements
Exploiting holidays, events and periods of high booking demand, fraudsters publish fake advertisements on electronic platforms and social media sites that include attractive pictures of luxury resorts or residential units with offers and prices that are cheap compared to the prices circulating in the market, they said.
Fraudsters do so to convince victims to make an urgent booking decision before the opportunity is lost, they added.
Scammers ask their victims to immediately transfer the booking deposit to a bank account or via electronic payment methods, claiming that there is a high demand for bookings and that transferring the deposit is the only guarantee to secure the appointment, they said.
After receiving the money, a scammer shuts off his phone or cuts off all means of communication with the victim, who later discovers that the advertisement was not real, that the advertised location or guesthouse did not exist or that the images used were copied from other advertisements, they added.
Awareness and caution
Awareness and caution are the first line of defence against this type of crime, Sharjah Police said, calling on the public not to be swayed by cheap prices or hasty offers that aimed to pressure the victim to make a quick decision without verifying the accuracy of the information.
They emphasised the importance of reviewing the data of the advertising entity and making sure of its licence and actual existence before completing any financial transaction.
It also recommended not to transfer the booking deposit to personal or anonymous accounts, they added, underlining the necessity of requesting an official booking contract and an approved receipt before paying any amount.
Sharjah Police urged the public to immediately report any suspicious advertisement or fraud attempt through official channels as this would contribute to reducing these practices and protecting members of society from falling victim to them.
