Dubai Police and Meta Strengthen Online Fraud Prevention
Dubai Police and Meta are strengthening efforts to combat online fraud through public awareness campaigns, cybersecurity guidance and cooperation between law enforcement and technology companies. The initiative featured an awareness forum organised by Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation with Meta during Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October 2026.
The forum highlighted how scammers impersonate government agencies, trusted organisations, friends and relatives to steal personal information or trick people into transferring money. Officials urged residents to verify identities, avoid suspicious links, and protect their account credentials.
The collaboration also supports the UAE’s national campaign, “A Safer UAE Through Your Digital Awareness,” launched by the Ministry of Interior with Dubai Police and the Dubai Electronic Security Centre. The campaign encourages safer online behaviour as criminals adopt increasingly convincing techniques, including AI-assisted scams.
Six Common Online Scams Residents Should Recognise
During the forum, Dubai Police identified six common types of fraud targeting internet users. These include:
-
Impersonation scams: Criminals pretend to be government agencies or trusted institutions to obtain sensitive information.
-
Phishing links: Fraudulent messages direct users to fake websites designed to steal personal or banking details.
-
Fake investment schemes: Scammers promise attractive returns to persuade victims to transfer money.
-
Fraudulent job offers: Criminals exploit jobseekers through fake recruitment ads and fake job opportunities.
-
Impersonation of friends and relatives: Fraudsters pretend to be someone the victim knows to request money or confidential information.
-
Account takeover attempts: Criminals seek passwords, login credentials or verification codes to gain unauthorised access.
As a result, Dubai Police advises residents to verify requests before sending money or sharing information. People should also report suspected fraud through official channels as soon as possible.
Meta Highlights AI Security and Account Protection
Meta outlined its efforts to detect fraudulent activity and protect users across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The company combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, security features, and public awareness campaigns to identify suspicious behaviour and disrupt scam-linked accounts.
The forum highlighted several tools that can help users secure their accounts. These include passkeys, two-factor authentication and security and privacy checkups. WhatsApp also warns of suspicious attempts to link accounts to unauthorised devices.
Furthermore, Meta reported that more than one billion people have set up passkeys on WhatsApp. Passkeys let users authenticate through supported device security methods, reducing their reliance on conventional passwords.
Dubai Police stressed that technology alone cannot eliminate online fraud. Instead, effective prevention requires informed users, stronger security systems and cooperation between public authorities and digital platforms.
The initiative reinforces the UAE’s wider efforts to improve digital literacy and protect residents from evolving cyber threats. As online scams become more sophisticated, the partnership aims to help people recognise warning signs, secure their accounts and make safer decisions online.
