Dubai Police expose scheme offering fake discount on traffic fines

Dubai Police have arrested a group of individuals accused of running a scam that offered fake traffic fine discounts of up to 70 per cent through social media.

The Anti-Fraud Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigation uncovered that the suspects lured victims by claiming they could clear fines through unofficial channels. Investigations revealed the gang used stolen credit cards to pay off victims’ fines in full. Once the payments appeared as cleared in the system, they demanded half the fine amount in cash as their “fee,” presenting it as a discounted rate.

According to police, the stolen credit card data was obtained through cybercrimes or purchased from illicit sources. The suspects typically approached victims via misleading social media advertisements, met them in person, and requested the full value of their fines before processing fraudulent payments.

Dubai Police described the scheme as a dual crime involving both banking data theft and financial fraud. Authorities also warned that individuals who knowingly take part in such arrangements could be legally treated as accomplices.

The force urged the public to avoid any offers of traffic fine reductions made outside official government channels, stressing that such offers are illegal and punishable. Residents were also encouraged to report suspicious activities through the “Police Eye” service on the Dubai Police app or by calling 901.