The Emirates Consumer Protection Association has issued a warning to both citizens and residents regarding deceptive online offers posted on websites and social media accounts.

These promotions, often advertised under terms such as 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' or 'special limited-time offer,' primarily target sectors like hospitality, hotels, and automobiles, reflecting a global rise in online financial fraud incidents.

Mohammed Khalifa bin Azir Al-Mahiri, Chairman of the Association, noted that there has been a troubling increase in the number of individuals falling victim to these 'digital illusions,' which have resulted in significant financial losses after being lured by fraudulent accounts and websites.

Many of these sites impersonate legitimate organizations or utilize stolen logos and branding from recognized entities.

Al-Mahiri highlighted two predominant types of online fraud observed by the Association.

The first involves misleading advertisements for vacation stays in chalets or hotels that are priced unrealistically low and are promoted through anonymous accounts or counterfeit websites that initially appear genuine.

Consumers are often tricked into transferring funds to personal accounts that are unrelated to the original establishments.

The second type of fraud centers around offers for vehicles sold at drastically reduced prices, marketed as 'special offers' or 'once-in-a-lifetime deals.' Consumers are frequently asked to pay deposits to reserve these vehicles, only to discover that they have engaged with fictitious sellers, as many of these accounts vanish entirely following the financial transfer.

Al-Mahiri pointed out that fraudsters typically do not provide official documents or clear contracts.

Instead, they rely heavily on psychological pressure and urgency, creating a false sense of scarcity regarding their offers and claiming high demand, which undermines consumers' ability to critically assess the authenticity of these promotions.

The Association urges consumers to engage only with licensed entities and reputable websites when making purchases or reservations.

They emphasize the importance of refraining from transferring funds to personal accounts or clicking on links from unknown sources.

Al-Mahiri stated that consumers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and should ideally transact with recognized, licensed companies rather than anonymous individuals.

To assist consumers in identifying potentially fraudulent offers, Al-Mahiri shared five key recommendations: avoid trusting offers that are significantly below market value, refrain from engaging with unlicensed accounts, do not send money to individuals but rather to established companies, ensure the existence of an official website and written contracts, and contact the original entity for verification before any payment, particularly when doubts arise about an offer's legitimacy.

Al-Mahiri also called for enhanced collaboration among regulatory bodies in the Emirates, particularly local economic development departments and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, along with other relevant organizations.

This coordinated effort aims to track down fraudsters and shut down counterfeit accounts and websites in cooperation with digital and banking service providers.

He emphasized that consumer protection is a collective responsibility that requires the collaboration of all stakeholders to safeguard consumers and their finances.