The United Arab Emirates has seen an increase in scams involving renting and selling property.
Criminals are finding new ways to defraud, using attractive offers to lure Emiratis into their traps.
In most cases, fraudsters publish advertisements with photos of non-existent properties, offering them at a price much lower than the market price. Victims interested in a 'good deal' make an advance payment, after which the perpetrators disappear, leaving the tenants with nothing.
The police urge people to be extremely cautious when making deals and not to trust promises of future rent reductions. To avoid being scammed, the authorities suggest following a few key rules:
- Only work with official agencies. Always check that the agency is registered with the relevant authorities.
- Check the identity of the agent. Ask to see their Emirates ID and make sure the details match those on the contract.
- Register transactions. Only sign contracts in official offices and make sure the property is registered with the government registry.
- Keep documents. Do not throw away signed contracts or other important documents.
It is worth noting that the Dubai authorities have recently taken additional measures to prevent fake listings.
Real estate agents have been instructed to remove from their platforms all properties that are not available for rent or sale within three days. In addition, all listing sites are now required to integrate with the Dubai Land Department's (DLD) system to automatically verify the validity of each listing. This will eliminate the listing of fake properties and increase user confidence.
Emirati residents are reminded that fraudsters are actively adapting their methods, so it is important to remain cautious when renting or buying property. Following the recommendations and verifying information through official sources will help avoid financial losses and unpleasant situations.