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Aug 11, 2026
Dubai Police closed 103 fraudulent social media accounts during the second quarter of 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to protect residents from online scams.
The force also recorded declines in fraud, cybercrime, economic crime and other major crime categories in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Exact figures and the scale of the reductions were not disclosed.
The results were reviewed at a performance evaluation meeting chaired by Major General Hareb Mohammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Affairs.
Police attributed the improvements to targeted field operations, proactive investigations, public Cybersecurity awareness campaigns and closer coordination between specialised units and partner entities. Artificial intelligence and crime-data analysis are being used more extensively to identify emerging threats and shift the force from responding to offences towards anticipating and preventing them.
The problem is not limited to the UAE. In the United States, nearly 30 per cent of people who reported losing money to fraud in 2025 said the scam began on social media, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Reported losses from social media scams reached $2.1 billion, eight times the amount recorded in 2020.
Investment scams that started on social media accounted for $1.1 billion of those losses. Shopping scams were the most commonly reported type, with more than 40 per cent of victims saying they had ordered something advertised on social media.
The action against the 103 accounts comes amid repeated Dubai Police alerts about fraudsters using social media and messaging apps to promote non-existent services:
Separately, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai has acted against social media accounts promoting unauthorised visa and residency services, warning that unverified operators expose people to exploitation and incorrect information about official procedures.
Major General Al Shamsi urged the public not to share personal or banking information with untrusted parties and to report suspicious activity at once.
Key precautions include:
The combination of account takedowns, measurable crime reductions and greater use of AI signals a more proactive stance by Dubai Police against online fraud. At the same time, the persistence of visa, travel and insurance scams shows that social media remains a favoured channel for criminals. Continued public vigilance, together with official verification of any financial or immigration-related offer, remains essential.
To stay ahead of evolving threats, professionals should enhance their security best practices through continuous upskilling with industry-recognised certifications such as CEH, CISSP, CISA, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA CySA+, GIAC, and emerging courses focused on AI Security and LLM Security. It is essential to build both technical defences and cybersecurity expertise to effectively detect, prevent, and respond to modern attacks targeting browsers and AI systems.
