The UAE Media Council has issued a strong warning to advertisers and influencers after taking legal action against a social media advertising account that promoted a product with unverified medical and therapeutic claims.

The advertisement, authorities said, lacked scientific evidence, had no approval from health regulators, and contained misleading information that breached approved media standards.

The Council confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against the account under the Executive Regulations of the Media Regulation Law, which governs advertising content across all media platforms in the country.

Officials stressed that misleading or unverified claims, particularly those related to health, pose serious risks to the public and will not be tolerated.

The Council also reminded advertisers, brands, and social media influencers to ensure all promotional content complies with regulations and is backed by verified information.

This latest action highlights the UAE’s tougher stance on misleading digital advertising, reinforcing its commitment to protecting public trust and safety.

The National Media Office (NMO) has referred several social media users to the Federal Public Prosecution for posting content that violates UAE media laws.

Officials said a special monitoring team works 24/7 to detect violations, alert users about their mistakes, and give them a chance to correct them. Those who fail to comply face legal action.

The NMO explained that these steps are taken to:

• Keep social media safe and respectful
• Prevent the spread of harmful or misleading content
• Protect community values and ethics

In March, the NMO had already reminded users to follow the UAE’s principles of respect, tolerance, and coexistence when posting online. It warned that anyone breaking these rules will be held accountable under UAE law.

Abu Dhabi Police have issued an urgent warning to motorists and residents after a scam message began circulating online, tricking people into believing they have a traffic violation.

The fake alert misuses an official police logo and provides a link to “check” the violation. But instead of leading to a government website, the link redirects to a hacker-controlled page operated by fraudsters in an Asian country. Victims risk losing personal data, banking details, and even money from their accounts.

Where the scam is spreading

According to police, the fraudulent link is being widely shared on WhatsApp, email, TikTok, Facebook, and X (Twitter).

The warning message being circulated online reads:

“Beware of any electronic message claiming you have a traffic fine and asking you to click a link to verify. These links are fake and run by scammers impersonating official websites.”

Why police are raising the alarm

• Fraudsters exploit fake advertisements and misleading links to steal financial and personal data.
• The bogus websites are designed to look like official portals but are in fact controlled by hackers.
• Scammers harvest bank details, passwords, and security codes once users enter their information.

How to protect yourself

• Verify the source: Open links only if you are 100% sure they are genuine.
• Don’t share sensitive info: Never type your banking or personal details into suspicious links.
• Use official apps only: Stick to government applications on the App Store or Google Play.
• Enable two-step verification: Turn on 2FA for accounts like WhatsApp to stay safe.

What to do if you’re targeted

If you receive such a link or suspect fraud, report it immediately through:

• Aman Service hotline: 8002626
• SMS: 2828
• Email: aman@adpolice.gov.ae
• Abu Dhabi Police Smart App

Abu Dhabi Police reminded the public to remain vigilant online: “Do not click suspicious links. Protect your data, protect your money.”