Dubai Police has warned residents and travellers about the sharp rise in travel booking fraud and fake holiday offers circulating online during the summer vacation season. The alert was issued as part of the Force’s ongoing “Be Aware of Fraud” campaign led by the Anti-Fraud Centre under the General Department of Criminal Investigation.
According to Dubai Police, scammers are taking advantage of the growing demand for discounted holiday packages, airline tickets, and hotel reservations by promoting unrealistic offers through fake websites and fraudulent social media accounts.
Authorities said fraudsters are designing fake platforms that imitate genuine travel agencies and tourism companies using copied logos, promotional images, and branding materials to make their offers appear legitimate.
The police explained that these cybercriminals often pressure victims into making immediate payments by claiming that travel seats are limited or that discounted offers will expire within a few hours.
Travel Booking Fraud Cases Increase During Holiday Seasons
Dubai Police noted that travel booking fraud incidents typically rise during summer vacations and festive travel periods when families actively search for affordable travel deals.
Scammers reportedly contact victims through phone calls, messaging apps, and social media platforms to convince them to quickly confirm bookings. Victims are usually asked to transfer money to personal bank accounts or suspicious payment links before the fraud is detected.
In several cases, travellers later discovered that flight tickets were invalid or hotel reservations did not exist. Some victims only realised they had been scammed after attempting to verify bookings with airlines or hotels.
Authorities warned that such fraudulent schemes can lead to significant financial losses while also disrupting travel and family holiday plans.
Dubai Police Shares Safety Measures Against Online Travel Scams
Dubai Police urged the public to avoid being influenced by advertisements offering prices that appear unusually low compared to normal market rates.
Officials advised travellers to deal only with licensed and accredited travel agencies or trusted official booking platforms. They also stressed the importance of verifying website links carefully before entering personal or banking information.
According to the Force, many fake websites are intentionally designed to closely resemble legitimate booking platforms, with only minor spelling or domain name differences that can easily go unnoticed.
Dubai Police further warned residents not to share bank card information, passwords, or security verification codes with unverified parties. The public was also advised to avoid transferring money to unknown personal accounts.
Authorities encouraged residents to report suspicious websites or fraud attempts through the official e-Crime platform or by contacting the non-emergency helpline 901.
Dubai Police Earlier Warned About Harmful Viral Online Trends
Prior to this advisory, Dubai Police had also warned the public about the spread of viral energy drink videos targeting children and teenagers on social media platforms.
The warning was issued by the Cybercrime Department under the General Department of Criminal Investigation. Officials said many viral videos encouraging excessive energy drink consumption are created mainly to generate online engagement without addressing associated health risks.
Dubai Police urged parents to monitor the online content viewed by children and teenagers and educate them about the dangers of blindly following viral internet trends.
Authorities added that influencer-driven challenges and online trends can make risky behaviour appear harmless to younger audiences, increasing concerns around digital safety and responsible social media use.
