'Too Good To Be True': UAE Residents Warned Of Rise In Cheap Staycation, Car-Deal Scams

Citizens and residents across the UAE have been urged to exercise caution when dealing with websites and social media accounts that promote attractive deals particularly in sectors such as hospitality, hotels, and automobiles .

These offers are often disguised under labels like“limited-time offer,”“special deal,” or“unmissable opportunity,” as online financial fraud continues to rise globally, warned the Emirates Society for Consumer Protection.

There has been a concerning surge in the number of victims who have fallen for what Mohammed Khalifa bin Aziz Al Muhairi, Chairman of the association, described as the "digital illusion," leading to major financial losses.

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Speaking to Emarat Al Youm he said, many consumers were targeted through fake accounts and fraudulent websites that either impersonated well-known institutions or misused official logos and branding to appear credible.

Al Muhairi noted that one of the most common fraud involves staycation offers or hotels accommodations at prices that are far below market value. These deals are often promoted through anonymous accounts or replica websites that, at first glance, seem legitimate. Consumers are deceived into transferring money to personal bank accounts not associated to the original businesses.

Another widespread tactic includes advertising cars at prices drastically below their market value . These offers are promoted as“special deals” or“unmissable opportunities,” where consumers are urged to pay upfront deposits to reserve the vehicles. Only after the payment do they discover that the sellers are fictitious, and the scammers disappear after receiving the funds.

Al Muhairi emphasised that scammers rarely provide official documentation or clear contracts. Instead, they rely heavily on psychological pressure, urging consumers to act quickly with claims that the offer is limited or in high demand. This creates a false sense of urgency and prevents consumers from properly verifying the legitimacy of the deals.

He advised consumers to only engage with licensed businesses and trusted websites when making purchases or reservations. He strongly warned against transferring money to personal accounts or clicking on suspicious links. He said that any offer that seems too good to be true should immediately raise red flags, and that consumers should only transact with well-known, officially registered companies within the UAE.

To help the public distinguish between genuine and fraudulent offers, Al Muhairi outlined several tell-tale signs. He pointed out that legitimate deals will not be significantly below the market rate and will come from businesses with valid commercial licenses. Any transaction should be made to official company accounts rather than individuals. He also stressed the importance of verifying the presence of an official website, ensuring there are written contracts in place, and contacting the original provider to confirm the validity of any deal before making a payment.

He urged for better collaboration between regulatory bodies, including local economic development departments and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. He also requested these entities to work closely with digital and banking service providers to identify and shut down fraudulent websites and accounts.

“Protecting consumers is a collective responsibility,” Al Muhairi said.“It requires the cooperation of all stakeholders to safeguard people's money and prevent online fraud.

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