Drivers in the UAE are being warned about a growing online scam involving fake car insurance offers advertised through social media.

Dubai Police has urged motorists to be particularly cautious of insurance deals promoted at unusually low prices, warning that such offers could be designed to trick people into handing over money or sensitive personal information.

Fraudsters may use social media advertisements and fake accounts to make their offers appear genuine, creating the impression that drivers are dealing with a legitimate insurer or authorised insurance broker.

How the fake insurance scam works

The scam typically starts with an attractive insurance offer that appears significantly cheaper than normal market rates.

Drivers looking for a cheaper policy may be directed to communicate with the advertiser or make a payment before receiving legitimate documentation.

In some cases, scammers may also attempt to obtain sensitive information such as identification documents, vehicle registration details or banking information.

Dubai Police is urging motorists not to let a low price override basic checks.

Warning signs drivers should look out for

Several red flags indicate an insurance offer is fraudulent.

Extremely cheap premiums

A price that is dramatically below what other insurers are offering should immediately raise suspicion.

Scammers often use unusually low prices to create a sense of urgency and persuade potential victims to act before checking the provider.

Fake social media accounts

Fraudsters can use social media profiles, advertisements and sponsored posts to impersonate established insurance companies or authorised brokers.

A professional-looking profile or advertisement does not necessarily mean the seller is legitimate.

Requests for immediate payment

Drivers should be wary if an advertiser asks them to transfer money quickly or provide financial information before the policy and company have been independently verified.

How to check if a car insurance offer is genuine

Dubai Police recommends taking precautions before making any payment or sharing personal information.

Verify the insurance provider.

Deal only with officially licensed insurance companies or authorised brokers operating in the UAE.

Check the offer independently.

Instead of relying on links or contact details supplied through a social media advertisement, contact the insurance company through its official website or verified customer-service channels.

Protect your personal and financial information.

Do not provide identification documents, vehicle registration details, bank card information or other sensitive data until the provider has been confirmed as legitimate.

Don’t let a cheap deal become an expensive mistake

A heavily discounted insurance offer may look tempting, particularly when motorists are trying to reduce their annual vehicle expenses.

But if an offer appears too good to be true, drivers should pause and verify it before paying.

A few minutes spent checking an insurer’s credentials could help prevent financial loss and the misuse of personal information.

Dubai Police’s latest warning forms part of wider efforts to raise awareness of online fraud and encourage residents to be more cautious when dealing with unsolicited offers on social media.

Businesses caught dealing in counterfeit, adulterated, or spoiled goods in the UAE now have just 24 hours to clear them off the shelves or face swift state intervention, under tough new commercial fraud regulations that have officially taken effect.

The new rules, outlined in Cabinet Resolution No. 107 of 2026 (the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023), significantly ramp up consumer protections. They grant authorities sweeping powers to raid premises, seize stock at the violator’s expense, issue public alerts, and order rapid product destruction.

The 24-hour countdown

Once the Ministry of Economy and Tourism or local authorities flag a non-compliant item, the clock starts ticking immediately. Suppliers must halt sales on the spot and execute four mandatory steps within 24 hours:

• Clear shelves and warehouses: Remove every affected batch from inventory.
• Alert supply chains: Notify downstream retailers and distributors to pull the products within the same 24-hour window.
• Recall active stock: Initiate steps to recover items already in circulation.
• Provide proof: Submit verified evidence to authorities confirming total withdrawal.

Miss the deadline? Expect the bill

Suppliers dragging their feet won’t stall enforcement.

Under Article 8, if a business fails to clear offending stock within 24 hours, government authorities will step in and clear markets and warehouses themselves within the following 48 hours, billing the non-compliant supplier for the entire operation.

Seizures, storage fees, and public name and shame

Authorities now hold expanded legal teeth to intervene early:

• Impounding stock: Suspected goods can be seized, locked in designated storage facilities, and held during lab testing, with all warehousing fees charged directly to the offender.
• Public consumer alerts: Regulators can publicly broadcast warnings naming the product type, description, and trademark to warn shoppers against dangerous goods.

Heavy penalties for violators

Ignorance is no longer an easy defence. Administrative penalties will hit anyone caught knowingly trading fraudulent goods, or anyone who should have reasonably known based on their industry expertise that the product posed a health and safety risk.

Regulators are paying particularly close attention to:

• High-risk goods: Medicines, organic foods, and agricultural supplies.
• Recycled hazards: Goods previously declared unfit for use that were reintroduced into the market.
• Profiteering & tampering: Counterfeit items bought for alteration, repackaging, or unlawful resale.
• Deceptive advertising: Products promoted with false claims regarding origin, ingredients, or quality standards.

Fast-track destruction: 15-day limit

Once a competent court or the Supreme Committee issues a formal ruling, authorities won’t let fake items linger in storage. Under Article 18, confiscated counterfeit and spoiled products must be destroyed within 15 working days, closing the door on unlawful resale.

For consumers, the revamped framework delivers stronger market surveillance and faster removal of hazardous goods. For traders, retailers, and distributors across the UAE, it sends a clear signal: compliance is non-negotiable, and slow reaction times will come with steep financial and legal costs.

Looking for a side hustle? Be careful.

Dubai Police have warned residents not to fall for fake part-time job offers circulating on social media and messaging apps after uncovering a scam that tricked a young man into helping criminals move stolen money.

In a social media post, Dubai Police shared how the scam typically unfolds. The victim responded to an online advert promoting a work-from-home job with flexible hours and quick earnings. After being told he had been accepted, he was instructed to open a new bank account or use his existing one to receive and process what were described as customer payments.

Money was then deposited into his account, and he was instructed to transfer it to other bank accounts in exchange for a commission.

The scammers claimed he was working for an overseas financial services company, but investigators later discovered the transfers were linked to a criminal network.

The victim told police he believed the job was genuine and had no idea he was helping fraudsters.

How the scam works

Police said these scams usually begin with online job ads offering fast cash for simple tasks.

Victims may then be asked to:

• Use their bank account to receive and transfer money.
• Pay registration or activation fees.
• Share personal or banking details.
• Complete financial transactions for a commission.

Authorities warned that scammers often use unsuspecting people’s bank accounts to move illegally obtained funds, which could leave the account holder facing serious legal consequences.

How to stay safe

Dubai Police urged job seekers to:

• Verify employers before accepting any job offer.
• Never share bank details with unknown individuals or companies.
• Avoid jobs that ask you to transfer money on behalf of others.
• Ignore employers requesting upfront payments or registration fees.

Anyone who receives a suspicious job offer is encouraged to report it through Dubai Police’s eCrime platform or by calling 901 for non-emergency assistance.